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ANGUS      P     I3ENNIUN 


NOTICE  T  €>?TR  EASERi 
When  you  finish  reading  this  magazine  place 
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overseas.  No    Wrapping — No   Address. 

A.  S.  Burleson,  Postmaster  General. 


Helping  Him  to  Choose  Wisely 


A  few.  years  ago  a  young  man  gradu- 
ated from  the  law  school  of  a  noted  uni- 
versity. He  had  a  host  of  friends,  he  had 
inherited  a  modest  fortune  and  every- 
body predicted  a  brilliant  career.  But 
he  didn't  succeed.  Why?  Simply  because 
he  disliked  office  work  and  had  no  taste 
for  the  law  and  therefore  he  never  even 
attempted  to  begin  practice. 

Having  nothing  definite  to  do,  he  be- 
came discouraged  and  finally  started  on 
the  downward  path  of  dissipation.  For- 
tunately, however,  a  wise  friend,  who  un- 
derstood the  principles  of  "vocational 
guidance"  took  hold  of  the  young  man. 
He  found  that  the  boy  loved  outdoor  life 
and  that  he  was  interested  in  horses  and 


machinery.  Accordingly  the  boy  was 
urged  to  purchase  a  farm  and  to  study 
scientific  agriculture. 

Today  that  young  man  is  one  of  the 
most  successful  farmers  and  stockmen  in 
America.  And  his  success  is  due  to 
proper  "vocational  guidance,"  or  the  se- 
lection of  the  work  for  which  he  was 
best  adapted.. 

Statistics  show  that  763  out  of  every 
1000  persons  in  gainful  occupations  feel 
that  they  are  in  the  wrong  vocations.  In 
other  words,  they  are  "square  pegs  in 
round  holes"  and  therefore  the  chances 
for  their  success  are  very  slim.  And  the 
sad  part  of  it  all  is  that  such  failures  are 
unnecessary. 


"The  Man  of  Tomorrow" 

a  wonderful  new  book  on  "Vocational  Guidance" 

By 

Claude  Richards 


a  successful  business  man, 


It  is 


will  help  every  young  man  and  woman  in  the  selection  of  their  life  work, 
suited  for  young  and  old,  and  should  be  read  by  every  parent. 

"Vocational  Guidance,"  as  outlined  in  Claude  Richards'  book,  is  insurance  against 
failure  and  a  short  cut  to  success. 

This  book  should  be  in  every  home.  It  has  been  adopted  for  supplementary 
reading  by  the  state  schools  and  also  by  the  Church  schools. 

The  book  is  substantially  bound  in  red  vellum;  it' is  printed  on  good  paper,  is 
profusely  illustrated  and  has  296  pages.  The  price  is  extremely  low— ONLY  |1,  post- 
paid  $1.10. 

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should  read 

The  Improvement  Era 

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numbers — a  whole  year — for  $2 — each  number  full  of  valuable  infor- 
mation (up  to  the  minute),  ripened  inspiration,  genuine  benefit  and 
interest. 

Vol.  22  Surpasses  All  Previous  Years 

One  hundred  writers  or  more  will  contribute  to  make  this  volume, 
commencing  November,  1918,  radiate  brightness,  goodness,  pleasure  and 
profit.  Over  a  thousand  pages  and  300  illustrations.  The  following 
indicates  the  scope  of  the  matter  to  be  presented: 


EDITORIAL  COMMENT  BY  PRESIDENT  JOSEPH  F.  SMITH 

Heart- 
Gripping 
Stories 

Indispensable 
Priesthood 
Information 

Up-to-date 
Descriptive 
Articles 

Science 
and  Ethics 

Mission 

Messages 

Musical 
Numbers 

Best  Home 
Poetry- 
Historical 
Items 

Church 
Education 

Helpful 
Mutual 

Sentiments 
from  the 
Soldier  Boys 

Best  Home 

Narratives 
Doctrine 

Suggestions 

Current 
Events 

Literature 

World  War 
Pictures 

A  hundred 

writers — three  hundred 

illustrations 

SUBSCRIBE      NOW 

$2,  but  worth  twenty.    Don't  miss  a  single  number 


Men  who  will  help  make  "THE 


President  Joseph  F.  Smith 
President  Anthon  H.  Lund 
President  Charles  W.  Penrose 
President  Heber  J.  Grant 
Orson  F.  Whitney 
Anthony  W.  Ivins 
Dr.  James  E.  Talmage 
Joseph  F.  Smith,  Jr. 


Dr.  Richard  R.  Lyman 
Levi  Edgar  Young 
Dr.  John  A.  Widtsoe 
Dr.  E.  G.  Peterson 
Dr.  F.  S.  Harris 
Dr.  Geo.  H.  Brimhall 
Alfred  Lambourne 
Prof.  D.  W.  Parratt 


Where  can  you  secure  an  equal  array  of  tal- 
ent in  things  spiritual,  poetic,  scientific  and  lit- 
erary? 


Stories  on  Hand 


"The  Great  Gift,"  Eunice  Crager. 

"The  Higher  Law,"  Viva  Huish  Ray. 

"When  the  Wind  Was  Sown,"  Ida  Stewart  Peay. 

"The  Hallowe'en  Party,"  Elizabeth  Cannon  Porter. 

"At  the  Devil's  Punch-bowl,"  Leila  Marler  Hoggan. 

"Friends,"  a  thrilling  war  story,  D.  W .  Cummings. 

"How  Elsa  Came  from  Germany,"  "Reclaimed,"  Annie  D.  Palmer. 

"His  Word  of  Honor,"  "Wilbur's  Christmas  Gift,"  Elsie  Cham- 
berlain Carroll. 

"A  Trapper's  Adventure,"  "The  Desert's  Fangs,"  "At  the  Top  of 
the  Canyon,"  and  other  thrilling  nature  stories  for  the  Era  by  Claude 
T.  Barnes. 

"A  Summer  Outing  and  What  Came  of  It,"  "A  Story  for  Boys  with 
Some  Observations  Which  May  Be  of  Interest  to  Men,"  by  Anthony  W . 
Ivins,  National  Scout  Commissioner,  and  a  scout  himself  from  early 
youth. 


ERA"Vol.22,bristle  with  interest 


Prof.  Evan  Stephens 
Dr.  Joseph  M.  Tanner 
Junius  F.  Wells 
Nephi  Jensen 
Osborne  J.  P.  Widtsoe 
Frank  R.  Arnold 
Frank  C.  Steele 
William  A.  Morton 


And  Many  Others 


Nephi  Anderson 
Newel  K.  Young 
Claude  T.  Barnes 
Dr.  Frederick  J.  Pack 
Dr.  J  .H.Paul 
Harold  Goff 
Watkin  L.  Roe 
M.  H.  Harris 


These  are  merely  indicative  of  dozens  of 
others  who  will  write  for  volume  22  of  the 
Improvement  Era. 


Special  Papers 


"The  Torch  Bearers"  a  message  to  the  mothers  of  our  soldier  boys, 
written  for  the  Era  by  Sarah  E.  Hawley  Pearson. 

"Social  Value  of  the  'Mormon  Organization."  Presented  by  Milton 
Hyrum  Harris,  M.  A.,  before  the  seminar  of  Sociology,  Columbia  Uni- 
versity, New  York  City. 

"David  Williams"  a  wonderful  faith-promoting  biographical  sketch 
of  a  man  who  was,  in  some  respects,  at  least,  a  fine  type  of  his  race,  writ- 
ten for  the  Era  by  the  late  Elder  B.  F.  Cummings,  who  was  closely  asso- 
ciated with  Williams. 

"The  Three  Orsons"  an  interesting,  faith-promoting  and  ingenious 
dissertation,  on  the  origin  of  the  name  Orson,  and  the  lessons  from  the 
lives  of  Orson  Hyde,  Orson  Pratt  and  Orson  Spencer,  written  for  the 
Era  by  Junius  F.  Wells,  the  organizer  of  the  Y.  M.  M.  I.  A.,  under  Pres- 
ident Brigham  Young. 

"A  Lesson  from  the  Book  of  Job"  a  consoling  exemplification,  by 
Elder  Orson  F.  Whitney,  of  the  main  reason  why  men  and  women  are 
called  upon  to  suffer,  which  is  not  made  plain  in  Job;  but  the  why  and 
wherefore  of  human  suffering  was  brought  to  light  by  the  Prophet  Joseph 
Smith,  by  which  mankind  are  given  the  strength  and  power  to  endure, 
not  before  possessed. 


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Improvement  Era 

Organ  of  the  Priesthood  Quorums,  the  Young  Men's  Mutual 

Improvement  Associations,  and  the  Schools  of  the 

Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints 


VOLUME  TWENTY-ONE 


Published  by  the 
General  Board  Y.  M.  M.  I.  A. 


"What  you  young  people  want,  is  a  magazine  that  will  make  a  book 
to  be  bound  and  kept,  with  something  in  it  worth  keeping." 

President  John  Taylor. 


Edited  by  Joseph  F.  Smith  and  Edward  H.  Anderson 
Heber  J.  Grant,  Manager;  Moroni  Snow,  Assistant  Manager 

1918 


The  glory  of  God  is  intelligence' 


IMPROVEMENT  ERA,  VOLUME  XXI 


INDEX  TO  SUBJECTS 


Aim  in  the  Teaching  of  Theology  330 

American  vs.  German  Ideals 29 

America's  Part  in  Preventing  Fam- 
ine     313 

Answering   the    Call   in   M.   I.   A. 

Work  25 

Applause  of  the  Multitude,  The...     23 

Are  Men  Created  Equal? 818 

Art  of  Tracting  in  Japan,  The 41 

At  the  Soldier  Boys'  Farewell 144 

Brigham   Young   and    the   United 

Order    668 

Call,  The  159 

Case  Against  Smokes,  The 984 

Causes  of  the  Great  War 581 

Cause  of  the  War,  The 1032 

Cigarette,  The   801 

Constitution  of  the  United  States, 

The    35 

Deliverance   Through   the   Gospel  516 
Dixie  is  Doing  her  Bit 877 

EDITORS'  TABLE 

Authoritative  Declaration,  An....  639 

Books  266,  361,  641,  918,  1019 

"Era"  Story  Contest,  The 452 

Faith  and  the  Resurrection 353 

Fall  of  Jerusalem,  The 259 

Helpfulness  1017 

In  Honor  of  Hyrum  M.  Smith....  451 
In   the   Foreground    of    Funda- 
mental  Things   821 

Keynotes  to  Conference  Topics     70 
Let  Each  Man  Learn  to  Know 

Himself    264 

Lincoln's  Prayer  and  the  Battle 

of  Gettysburg  639 

Man  of  Tomorrow,"  "The  ...265,  641 

Message  to  the  Soldier,  A 261 

Messages  from  the  Missions 

79,    162,   267, 

363,  452,  544,  642,  738,  826,  920,  1095 

Nation-wide  Prohibition 824,  1095 

New  Volume  of  the  Era 1094 

Nobility    265 

Notes    542 

Notice      to      the      Melchizedek 

Priesthood  Quorums  361 

Old  and  the  New,  The 539 

Only  Life  Worth  While 448 

Organization  of  the  Church,  The  637 


PAGE 

EDITORS'  TABLE  (Cont.) 

Our     President's     Seventy-ninth 

Anniversary     77 

Patriotism    640 

Penrose,  President  Charles  W...  449 
Pershing  to  the  Soldier  Boys....     79 

Profanity 737 

Providence  is  Over  All 264 

Recognition  of  Noble  Work 917 

Sentiments  from  the  Soldiers.. ..1018 

Stories    - 641 

Third  Liberty  Loan,  The 539 

Thrift  and  Economy  631 

To  My  Son 264 

True  Nobility  263 

United    States    Boys'    Working 

Reserve     541 

Unjust  Profits  918 

Unpardonable  Sin,  The 732 

Vital  Call,  A 1093 

Who  was  Joseph  Smith? 167 

Win     the    War    but    Save    the 

Youth    915 

Word  from  President  George  F. 

Richards,  A  171 

El  Morah — Inscription  Rock 504 

"Era"  Story  Contest  550 

Eternal   Progression   623 

Experience  at  the  Front 810 

Foolish  Virgins  of  1918 980 

Friend,  A  946 

GENERAL  EFFICIENCY  REPORT 
OF  Y.  M.  M.  I.  A. 

For  October,  1917 188 

For  November,  1917 282 

For  December,  1917 376 

For  January,  1918 469 

For  February,  1918 563 

For  March,   1918 658 

Get  the  Saving  Habit 876 

God's   Foreknowledge   Not   a   De- 
termining Cause  404 

Gold  Mines  and  Riches 759 

Grizzly  of  the  Idaho  Woods,  The..  793 
Healing  and  the  Emmanuel  Move- 
ment     1065 

Health  Conservation,  Some  Fund- 
amentals of  1051 

Home  Evening  203,  477 

How  Permanent  Peace  May  Come  575 


INDEX  TO  SUBJECTS 


How   to   Lessen   Contributions   to 

Crime  1004,  1089 

Hyrum  Smith  Monument,  The 847 

ILLUSTRATIONS 

Air  Battle  in  Progress,  An 488 

American  Soldiers  on  the  March 

to  the  Front  Line  Trenches. ...1016 
Americans   Teach    British    Base 

Ball    970 

Amiens     690 

Author    and    Three    Elders    La- 
boring in  Nipon,  The 816 

At   Luncheon   670 

Bailleul    714 

Bastile,  The   982 

Battery  Assembled  for  Retreat..  999 

Being  Gassed  550 

Bethlehem,   the   Birth   Place   of 

Christ    352 

Bonaparte   Napoleon    983 

British  Tank,  A 574 

Browne,    Maurice    1014 

Byng,        Lieutenant        General 

Julian    252 

Canada  Goose,  The  426 

Canadian  Cavalrymen  in  France  1105 

Canvas  Back  Duck,  The 292 

Charles  Billman's  Family 642 

Clemenceau,  Premier  of  France  280 
Cottage  Home  in  the  Hills,  A ....  941 

Cotton  Field  in  full  tJloom 877 

Cove  Fort  99 

Damascus     447 

Descendants  of  Members  of  the 

Mormon  Battalion  327,  328 

Descendants    of    Mormon    Bat- 
talion at  Old  Town  324 

Dip  in  the  Great  Salt  Lake,  A ....  126 

Ditching  Machine,  A 314 

Doctor  Taylor   and   Scout   Mas- 
ters and  Pioneer  Smoot 1023 

El  Morah — Inscription  Rock 504 

Elders  and  Missionaries  of 

Alabama    Conference   826 

Australian   Mission   456 

Dallas,  Texas   644 

Dayton,   Ohio   920 

Denver,  Calorado  741,  1096 

Haapai   Island   Conference 454 

Hull   Conference,  England 1099 

Illinois  Conference  363 

Indiana    Conference    253 

Indianapolis  Conference  545 

Irish   Conference   827 

Leeds   Conference   80 

Los   Angeles,   California 921 

Manchester  Conference  454 


PAGE 

ILLUSTRATIONS  (Cont.) 

Mississippi   Conference   81 

Missouri    Conference    364 

Naikohi  Conference   741 

New  Castle  Conference 267 

New  Haven  Conference.. ..258,  643 
New  South  Wales  Conference  922 
New  Zealand  Mission. .1098,  1102 

Norrkoping    Conference   831 

North  Carolina   Conference...  829 

Nottingham  Conference  1097 

Samoan    Mission    269 

San  Luis  Conference  268 

Savaii  Conference  455 

Tasmanian   Conference    453 

Tongan  Island  Conference 828 

Vermont   Conference   548 

Elephant  Butte  Dam,  The 315 

Enemy   of  Democracy,  The 18j 

Fairbanks,  Douglas  622 

Firemaking    694 

Four  Generations   436 

French  Refugees  789 

Front  of  New  Meetinghouse  in 

Parowan    136 

Fuhriman,  Walter  U 898 

Gaza,  City   of 190 

General      Foch      and      General 

Pershing  656 

German  Prisoners  793 

Glade,  George  Blair  900 

Gondolas  on  Zeppelins 242 

Green  Winged  Teal,  The 695 

Hancock,  John  39 

Haunted   Mesa,   The 618 

Hog     Island     Launching,     The 

First    1028 

Holy  Sepulchre,  The 291 

Home  Evening  477 

Hyrum  Smith  Monument,  The..  846 
In  the  Court  within  Cove  Fort..  101 

Incendiary   Grenade   Attack 375 

Inhabitants    of    Chateau-Thierry 
Going  to  Meet  their  American 

Liberators    .1031 

Inter-Allied    Naval    Council 560 

Irigoyen,  President  Hipolito......     93 

Irrigation    Canal,   An 316 

Italians  Armored  Like  Tanks...  186 

Jerusalem,   The   Heart  of 254 

Jerusalem  Delivered  431 

Kerenski,  A  New  Picture  of 65 

King   Cotton — Picking  Time 879 

Kirkham,  Field   Secretary,  with 

Boys    in    Field 365 

Lambert,     President,     and     His 

Office   Force   268 

Lee,  Lieut.  Robert  E 467 


INDEX  TO  SUBJECTS 


ILLUSTRATIONS  (Cont.) 

Linemen  at  Work 997 

Lone  Sentinel,  The 284 

Lowering   a   British   Hydroaero- 
plane    396 

Lyman,  Elder  Richard  R 628 

Lyon,  General  LeRoy  S 322 

Maori  Agricultural  College  Bas- 
ket Ball  Team  740 

Meeting   of   Cortez   and   Monte- 
zuma   603 

Meeting   old   Friends  in   Mount 

Pleasant    105 

"Milking  Up,"   and   Resting   on 

Return   Trip   1047 

Miller,  Bishop  Orrin  Porter 910 

Monroy,  Rafael,  and  his  Mother  721 
Monroy,  Rafael,  and  Relatives. ...  722 
Monument   Marking   "Mormon" 

Traces  Through  Iowa 132,  134 

Narrow  Streets  Lined   on   Both 

Sides,  etc 42 

"Never  Heard  From"  148 

New  Presidency   of   Bear   Lake 

Stake   351 

New    Zealand    Saints   Who    Ap- 
peared in  Concert  546 

New     Zealand     Sunday     School 

Teachers  547 

Odessa    602 

Old  Cypress  Tree  566 

On  Top  of  Zuni  Pueblo 506 

One  of  the  Wonders  of  the  War     69 
Party    Lined    for    Photo    after 
Lunch  at  Mt.  Pleasant,  The...  103 

Potato   Cellar,   A 315 

Presidency   of  New   Montpelier 

Stake   350 

Presidents     Smith,     Lund,     and 

Grant,  Showered  with  Flowers  107 
Reading  Matter  for  the  Soldiers  667 
Reception  of  the   Party  on   Ar- 
rival at  Manti  108 

Retreat  of  the  Dismal  Night 611 

Richards,  President  George  F. ....  427 

Ring-billed   Gull,  The 783 

Roberts.  Chaplain,  Brigham  H.  325 

Ruins  of  Colonia  Diaz 616,  617 

Sage-brush    Land    Prepared    for 

Dry-farming    317 

Saints  of  Transvaal  Conference  741 
Salutes  of  the  Allied  Soldiers    .1041 

Savannah  River  878 

Scene  at  a  Southern  Cotton  Gin  878 
Scene    in    Red    Cross    Pageant, 

May  21,  1918 782 

Scene   on  Temple   Block,   April 
6,   1918    638 


ILLUSTRATIONS  (Copt.) 

Scenes  in  Mexico   718 

Scouts     Gathering     Books     for 

Soldiers    833 

She   Bows,  Touching  her  Head 

to  her  Hands  43 

Site  of  Peter  Whitmer's  House..  637 

Smedley,  James,   Jr , 897 

Smith,   Hyrum   Mack 378 

Smith,  President  Joseph  F.,  and 

Company    154 

Smith,  President  Joseph  F.,  and 

Grandchildren    864 

Some    Spells   469 

Starting  Over  the  Top  at  Night  904 
Statue  of  George  Washington...     37 

Statue  of  Liberty,  The 96 

Steamer  Herbert  L.  Pratt 841 

Stream    in   the   Wasatch   Moun- 
tains,   A    943 

Sunday      School     of     Asakami, 

Japan  830 

Terminal   Grain  Elevator,  A 313 

Thousands  of  Troops 2 

Troop  51,  Salt  Lake  City 699 

Turkish    Prisoners    Bagged    by 

the  British  559 

University  of  Utah  Detachment 

Radio  Class  998 

Van  Volkenburg,  Ellen 1013 

View    of    the    Whole    Monster 

Zeppelin    243 

Weed,  Floyd  L 184 

Wells,   Bishon   John 938 

Wells,  Brig.-Genl.  Briant  H 1077 

White  Pelican,  The 614,  617 

Whitney,   Elder   Orson   F.,   and 

Party  at  El  Morah 505 

Whitney,    Elder    Orson    F.,    at 

Grand   Canyon   508 

Wilson,  President  Woodrow 35 

Wilson,  President,  on  5th  Ave- 
nue,  New  York 754 

Yankee  "Doughboys"  Entrained 

for  the  Front  Line  Trenches. 1011 
Young,  Brig.-Genl.  Richard  W.  .1074 

Young,  President  Brigham... 660 

Zuni  Indian  Vegetable  Gardens  50*> 
Zuni  Women  Winnowing  Wheat  507 

Tn    Memoriam 379 

In    the    Footsteps    of    their    Fore- 
fathers     ".. 321 

Interest  in  Church  Literature 698 

Is  the   Shadow  Lifting   from   Pal- 
estine?      137 

Journev  to  the  South,  A 97 

July    4th,    1918 : 820 

Latter-day   Martyr,   A 720 


INDEX  TO  SUBJECTS 


PAGE 
League     of    Nations    to     Enforce 

World  Peace,  A 499 

Liberty    763 

Lincoln,  Abraham,  to  the  Nations  283 

Little  Children,  The 892 

Living   Witness   to   the   Power   of 

God,  A  893 

London    Conference    Reunion    in 

Salt  Lake  City 425 

Loyalty   to    Utah's   Manufacturing 

Interests   51 

Lyman,  Elder  Richard  R 627 

Makers  of  Science,  The 

53,  123,  244,  334,  397,  673,  780,  886 

Man  Who  is  not  a  Man,  A 336 

Meaning   of  Education,   The 

201,  683,  808,  1048 

Meeting  a  Great  Man 661 

Mental  Influence  902 

Mexico  After  the  War 715 

Miller,  Bishop  Orrin  P 910 

"Mormon"  Trace,  The 132 

"Mormonism"  and  the  War 1029 

Mortality    a    Boon — Man     is     Im- 
mortal    473 

Mutual   Improvement   Association 

Reading  Course,  1918-1919 814 

MUTUAL  WORK 

Advance  Senior  Class  Study..834,  930 
Annual  M.  I.  A.  Conference.645,  745 
Annual     Pioneer     Trail     Hike, 

1918  1022 

Annual    Report    of   M.    I.     A. 

Scouts -  833 

Class  Methods  in  New  Zealand. .1102 

Corn  and  Bean  Contest 461 

Death  of  Morris  Gottfredson 461 

Destroying   an   Association 1101 

Efficiency  Reports.179.  366,  463,  554 
Enrollment  in  the  Y.  M.  M.  I.  A.  837 
Ethics     of     the     Doctrine     and 

Covenants     .86,  179,  273,  367,  457 
Four     Essential     Things    to    be 

Taken  Care  of  Early 1021 

General  Fund  837 

Helpful  Hints  to  Stake  Officers  .1100 
How  to  Make  a  Better  Mutual .  367 

How  to  Raise  Corn 551 

Improvement  Era,  The 836 

It«»ms    on    Scoring 84 

Liberty  Bond  in  Every  Home,  A     85 

Live   Associations   177 

Man  of  Tomorrow,  The 271,     84 

M.  I.  A.  Activities.  84,  272.  462,  925 
M.  I.  A.  Activities  for  1918-1919  927 
M.  I.  A.  Bovs'  Industrial  Contest  746 
M.  I.  A.  Calendar  for  1918-1919..  930 


MUTUAL  WORK  (Cont.) 

M.    I.    A.    Gathering    at    April 

Conference    551 

Milwaukee  on  the  M.  I.  A.  Map  462 
New     Movement     for     Summer 

Work  in  the  M.  I.  A.,  A 552 

New  Y.  M.  M.  I.  A.  Roll  Book ...  181 

On  Ensign  Peak  1022 

Pioneer  Stake  Activity  Guide. ...1101 

Plan  for  Summer  Work 

645,  747,  832,  928 

Program   for   Stake    Conference 

Conventions  923 

Purpose   in    Studying   the    Doc- 
trine and  Covenants 178 

Reading   Course  Books  653 

Saving  of  Souls,  The 463 

Scout  Work  in  Chicago 554 

Senior  Manual  for  1918-19,  The  929 

Snowflake  in  the  Front 460 

Southern  States  Y.  M.  M.  I.  A 746 

Stake  Efficiency  Reports  553 

Statistical  Report  of  the  Y.  M. 

M.  I.  A • 835 

Suggestions  for  an  Opening  So- 
cial   1021 

Suggestive      Preliminary      Pro- 
gram     1023 

"The  Mission  of  America" 1100 

Thrift  Stamps  and  Savings  Cer- 
tificates    462 

Value  of  Religion,  The 84 

War  Savings  Stamp  Campaign....  931 
War   Savings    Stamps    and    Cer- 
tificates    366 

Wasatch  Stake  Efficiency  Report  461 
Y.  M.  and  Y.  L.  M.  I.  A.  An- 

nual  Conventions,  1918 923 

Y.  M.  M.  I.  A.  Bean  and  Corn 

Contest   365 

Y.  M.  M.  I.  A.  General  Fund 930 

Y.  M.  M.  I.  A.  Work 85 

New  Stake  Presidencies 350 

Notes    270,  653 

Only  a  Woman  to  Deal  With 127 

Ottinger,  George  M 146 

Outlines  for  Scout  Workers 

292,  426,  614,  695,  783 

PASSING  EVENTS 

Abdul  Hamid  464 

Airplane  Mail  Service 748 

Alberta's  Loyalty  in  Production 

and  Men  281 

Alcedo  182 

All  the  Railroads  in  the  United 

States  373 

Allenby,  General  556 


INDEX  TO  SUBJECTS 


PAGE 

PASSING  EVENTS  (Cont.) 

American   Army    at   the    Front, 

The    839 

American  Casualty  List,  The 840 

American  Engineers  Fight 277 

American   Independence   Day...  934 
American   Soldiers  in   France. ...1103 

American  Soldiers'  Letters 555 

American    Troops    in    Lorraine 

Sector    557 

Americans   in   the   Trenches   in 

France     183 

Anti-Tank    Rifle 1103 

Argentine  Troops  Mobilized 277 

Army  Draft  Men  932 

At  the  Italian  Front 277 

At  the  Vernal  Dinosaur  Quarry  539 

Audubon  Societies  562 

Auerbach,  Herbert  S 454 

Austrian   Drive,   An 838 

Baker,  Secretary  of  War 555,  654 

Barthou,  J.  Lewis  183 

Basinger,  David  L. 373 

Being  "Gassed"   558 

Bennett,  James  Gordon 749 

Bliss,  Major  General  Tasker  H.     91 

Bohi,   Gotlob    561 

Bolo  Pasha   467 

Bolsheviki,  The  279 

Book  Campaign,  A , 555 

Boyd,  John  D.,  Jr 748 

Brady,  Senator  James  H 372 

Brazil    277 

Brazil  Proclaims  War 182 

Brigham      Young       University, 

The    1024 

British   Army,  The 91 

British  Sank  a  Masked  Raider, 

The    182 

Brown,   Carl   G 91 

Byng,  General  278 

Call    Issued    for    95,000    More 

Troops    556 

Callister,   Edward   H 280 

Cannon,  Wilhelmina  Mousley ....  371 

Cardona,   General   Luigi 464 

Carlquist,  Carl  A 1103 

Carter,   Charles  W 465 

Clark,  Lieutenant  O.  R 1025 

Clayton,  Private  Albert  G 751,  841 

Clemanceau,    Georges,    Premier 

of  France  280 

Cold  Weather  in  New  York 371 

Concrete  Ship  "Faith,"  The 655 

Condition  in  the  Army  Camps..  374 

Conscription  in  Canada  371 

Crawford,  Private  Edward  J 371 

Crow,  Raymond  Franklin 750 


PASSING  EVENTS  (Cont.) 

Cullen,  Mathew  556 

Cummings,  B.  F 561 

Czecho-Slovak,  The 1024,   1103 

Daylight  Saving  Law,  The 655 

Decoration  Day,  May  30 753 

Died  in  Service. ...752,  953,  1026,  1106 

Diet  of  Finland,  The 277 

Disastrous    Fire    at    Bamberger 

Electric  Railroad  749 

Dutch   Ships   560 

East   Africa   Cleared 277 

Eclipse  of  the  Sun,  An 838 

Egan,  Richard  Erastus  750 

Elders  of  the   Church   of  Jesus 

Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints 465 

Election  Day  92 

Election  in  Utah,  The 182 

"Era"  Story  Contest 753 

Farewell   Parade,   A 94 

Federal     Prohibition     Constitu- 
tional Amendment  932 

Fifth  German  Drive,  The 933 

Fifth  Great  German  Drive,  The.. 1025 

Finland  Wants  a  King 556 

First  Shell  Shock  Victim,  The..  838 

For  Military  Purposes 839 

Ford,  Mrs.  Lena  Gilbert 558 

Forty-Second    Infantry    of    Fort 

Douglas,   The   184 

French  National  Holiday,  The...  932 

"Garabed,"  The   91 

Gardner,  Vern   372 

Gaza,  The  City  of 182 

General      Foch      and      General 

Pershing  656 

German   Army,   The 561 

German  Long  Range  Guns,  The  748 

German  Submarine,  A 841 

Giles,  Elmo  654 

Grant,  President  Heber  J 464 

Great  German  Drive,  The 657 

Guatemala   City   372 

Haight,   Lloyd    Burt 839 

Haiti    932 

Halifax    278 

Hasbrouck,   Colonel   Alfred 838 

Hendrickson,  James   L 749 

Hertling,   Count  Von 183 

Holland    656 

Hotzendorf,  Field  Marshal  Von  933 

Howell,  Hon.  Joseph 932 

Iliff,  Rev.  T.  C 555 

Immigration      to      the      United 

States    1103 

Increased  Artillery  Action 559 

Irigoyen,  President  Hipolito 93 


vi  INDEX  TO 

PAGE 

PASSING  EVENTS  (Cont.) 

Italian     Army     on     the     Isonzo 

Front,  The  187 

Japan  555 

Jensen,  Lee  748 

Jenson,  Harold  H 749 

Jerusalem  Surrendered  277 

Keith,  David  654 

Kelly,  Lincoln  G 555 

Kemmel,  Mount  748 

Kesler,  Alonzo  P 466 

Latter-day    Saints    School    Con- 
vention, The  839 

Lee,  Lieutenant  Robert  E 467 

Lenine,  Nikolai  1104 

Lessman,  B.  Henry 464 

Liberty  Cabbage  748 

Liberty  Day  750 

Leggitt,  Major   General   Hunter 

L 838 

Liliuokalani,  Queen  187 

Logan  Temple,  The 555 

Loomis,  Lieutenant  Dudley  A...  464 

Lufbery,  Major  Raoul 838 

Lund,  Henry  C 556 

Luxburg,  Count  182 

McAdoo,  Secretary  of  the  Treas- 
ury, William  G 92 

McKay,  Patriarch  David 186 

McQuarrie,  Bishop  Robert....93,  278 

Marine   Casualties  838 

Marshall,  Vice  President  Thom- 
as R 182 

Miller,  Clarence  Earl 92 

Marshal  Foch  1103,  1104 

Mohammed  V  934 

Montgomery,  Forest  933 

Moore,  Edward  932 

Moyle,  James  H 91 

Nation-wide    Prohibition    .374,    1104 
Naval     Battle    in    the    Gulf    of 

Riga,  A  91 

Neff,  Patriarch  John 373 

New  Inter-Entente  War  Council  278 
New  Mexican  Revolution  Move- 
ment, A   183 

New  Mexico   and   Ohio 182 

New  Registration  of  Young  Men  838 

New  Wireless  System.. 1103 

New  York  182 

Ogden  : 374 

On    the    West    Battle    Front    in 

France  182 

One  Hundred  Ships 934 

Page,  Jonathan  S..  Jr 372 

Palmer,  J.  Mitchell  184 

Pasha,  Bolo 655 

Peace   Treaty,    A 466 


SUBJECTS 

PAGE 

PASSING  EVENTS  (Cont.) 

Poulson,  Bishop  Otto  J 654 

Profiteering    Exists    932 

Prophecy  Come  True,  A 465 

Purchase  of  Liberty  Bonds,  A....  655 
Raids  by  the  German  U-boats.. ..1024 
Railroad  Administration,  The....  838 

Railway  Situation,  The 278 

Rainbow  Division,  The 277 

Rainfall,  The   371 

Reconstruction  Hospital,  A 1024 

Reconvened  65th  Congress,  The  279 

Red  Cross,  The 277 

Registration   Day  1104 

Richthofen,  Baron  Von 748 

Rip-tide  at  Ocean  Beach,  A 750 

Roberts,  Coach  E.  L 751 

Roosevelt,  Lieutenant  Quentin..l024 
Russian  Church  and  State,  The  465 
Russian    Government    at    Petro- 

grad  Taken  by  Bolsheviki 183 

Rust,  David  D 839 

San  Francisco  Conference  Office 

Moved  753 

Sargent,  Wilford   N 748 

Scott,  Major  General  Hugh  L 555 

Second  Conscription,  The 371 

Second    Contingent    of    Drafted 

Men  92 

Second  Increment  to  the  Second 

National  Army,  A 654 

Second  Liberty  Loan,  The 91,  184 

Second  War  Fund  for  American 

Red  Cross,  The 751 

Seeley,  Joseph  F 654 

Senator    Tries    New    Browning 

Machine  Gun  Rifle 556 

Serious  Railway  Accident,- A 840 

Sevey,  Milton  H 278 

Shelley,  Idaho,  Completes  Sugar 

Factory     183 

Shipp,  Dr.  Milford  B 556 

Ships  Sunk  by  Submarines 466 

Shutdown  of  Industries,  A 371 

Siberian  Situation,  The 558 

Since    Charles    H.    Schwab    was 

Made   Director   750 

Sloan,  Thomas  W 374 

Smith,   Calvin   S. 556 

Smith,  George  Albert 91 

Smith,  Joseph  F.,  Jr 654 

Smith,  W.  Clarence  843 

Some    Shells    464 

Spain 92 

Spring-Rice,  Sir  Cecil  Arthur. ...  464 
Statements  for  the  Income  Tax..  375 

Steel   Armor,  The 186 

Stefanson,   Vilhjalmar    371 


INDEX  TO  SUBJECTS 


PASSING  EVENTS  (Cont.) 

Stephens,  Professor  Evan 292 

Taft,  Sargeant  Major  Charles  P.     96 

Tanner,  Horace  R 839 

Texas   and    Prohibition 654 

Texas  Legislature,  The 555 

Third  Liberty  Loan,  A 371 

Three   Temperance   Steps 373 

To  the  145th  Field  Artillery 842 

Total  Subscription  to  the  Third 

Liberty  Loan,  The 838 

Turkish  Prisoners  "Bagged"  by 

the  British  559 

Tuscania,  The  466 

Twentieth  Infantry,  The 933 

Two    Year    War    Cost     of     the 

United  States,  The 277 

United  States  Airship  Program, 

The    279 

United  States  Army  in  France, 

The    934 

Utah  Artillery  Band,  The 935 

Utah  Boy,  A 94 

Utah  Coal  Road,  The 279 

Utah  has  18,097  Men  Serving 1024 

Utah's  National  Guard  1103 

Von  Eichhorn,    Field    Marshal 

Herman    1025 

War,  The  372 

War  Savings  Campaign,  The 560 

War  Savings  Certificates 277 

Weed,  Floyd  L 184 

Weggeland,  Danquart  Anthon....  840 

Wells,  John  932 

Weston,  James  Hughs 748 

Weymiss,     Vice     Admiral     Sir 

Rosslyn     371 

What  Russia  Lost 749 

Wheat  Prices 96 

When  the  United  States  Troops 

Arrived  in   Britain 840 

Wilhelm,   Kaiser  185 

Wilson,  Charles  R 751,  839 

Wilson,  President  Woodrow 465 

Winning  the  War  Through  Bus- 
iness      467 

Winter  During  February,  The....  556 
Winter  Term  of  the  Utah  Agri- 
cultural College  183 

Woman  Suffrage   372 

Woolley,  Elder  Marion  E 1024 

Wounded  in  Action 935 

Young,  Alonzo  654 

Young,  Brigadier  General  Rich- 
ard W 750,  842 

Young,  Colonel  Richard  W 655 

Zeebrugge    749 

Peace  Terms  446 


Philosophy  of  the  Atonement 727 

Plucky  Pioneer  Mother,  A 755 

POETRY 

Ambition   498 

American  Mothers'  Prayer,  The  195 

Anticipation    241 

Boy  Who  Fights  for  his  Mother, 

The    719 

Christmas,   1917   112 

Coming  Spring  403 

Consolation  34 

Day,  The  350 

Day  with  Nature,  A 845 

Departure  of  the  "First  Utah"....  312 

Each  Little  Hour 243 

El  Morah — Inscription  Rock 508 

Evening  Visitor,  An 22 

Flag  Goes  By,  The 296 

Fortitude    471 

Freedom's   Flag    54 

God's  Gift— A  Mother 536 

Gold   Star  in   the   Service   Flag, 

The    837 

Grace    of    the    Power    to    Give, 

The    406 

Green  Winged  Teal,  The 696 

Gull,  The  785 

Hope   1056 

I  Do  Not  Ask 630 

I  Stepped  in  Your  Steps  All  the 

Way  672 

In  Mesopotamia  865 

Innocents,  The  297 

Invocation    503 

It  Matters  Not 52 

Jerusalem    255 

Latter-day  Kingdom,  The 479 

Life's   Strenuous   Journey 729 

Lilacs,  The   515 

Lines  659 

Listening   Post,  The 891 

Little  Nell  880 

Lucy  Mack  Smith 779 

Memories  50 

Metamorphosis     149 

Mountain  Men,  The 565 

My  Sleepy  Goslings 429 

My  Work  514 

Nation's  Prayer,  The 287 

Nature's  Peace  617 

Needs  of  Yesterday,  The 116 

Night's  Goddess  122 

Old   Glory 958 

On  the  Fall  of  Jerusalem 518 

Our  Boys  525 

Our  Country's  Call 895 


INDEX  TO  SUBJECTS 


POETRY  (Cont.) 

Our  Flag  538 

Our  Flag  Must  Stand 44 

Prayer,  A  .„ 189 

Prayer,  A  613 

Prayers  892 

Results   and   Roses 580 

Sagebrush  817 

Song  of  the  War,  A 232 

Sonnet  1 

Strength  to  be  a  Helper 786 

The  Great  Ideal  1027 

The  Shepherd  of  the  Range 1038 

These    "Former    Things"    Shall 

Pass  Away  675 

Time  and  Eternity 726 

To  a  Waterfowl 295 

To  a  White  Carnation 28 

To  Avelan  288 

To    Camille   Desmoulins 982 

To  Napoleon  Bonaparte 983 

To  the  Sons  of  Freedom 753 

Two  Boys  and  a  Cigarette 686 

Voice  of  the  Grand  Old  Organ, 

The    60 

Why  Should  I  Sing? 758 

Wild  Duck's  Nest,  The 698 

Write  the   Soldier  Boy  a   Let- 
ter   553 

You  Who  Stand  at  Armageddon  1073 

PRIESTHOOD    QUORUMS    TABLE 
Changes  in  Officers  for  Months 
of    September    and    October, 

1917   176 

Home  Bureau  Department,  The     82 
How    to    Stimulate    Interest    in 

Gospel   Study   174 

Missionary  Work  in  Star  Valley 

Stake   742 

Notes    270,  550 

Priesthood  Meetings  in  Pioneer 

Stake   .' 742 

Priesthood   Quorums   Study  for 

1918   270 

Priesthood  Study  for  1918 176 

Quorum  Fraternity  and  Officer's 

Responsibility,   Granite   Stake  743 

Special  Missionaries  549 

Spirited  Teachers   and  Deacons 

Class,   A 549 

Summer      Amusements,      Davis 

Stake   742 

Principles   of  Government  in  the 

Church    3 

Problems  of  Every-day  Life 233 

Problems  of  the  Age 304,  407, 

526,    591,    700,    799,    866,    971,    1057 


PAGfc 

Prohibition    in    Canada 806 

Question  to  Young  Men,  A 248 

Religion  Active  and  Passive 993 

Religion  of  Daily  Life 256 

Remember  the  Sabbath  Day 114 

Return  of  the  Jews,  The 773,  881 

Riches  vs.   Riches 418 

Scouts  and  the  Tobacco  Problem. 1037 
Secretary  Daniels  and  the  Soldiers  202 

Service  to   Country 1050 

Service  to  Country,  "Over  Here"..  912 
Should    Latter-day    Saints    Drink 

Coca  Cola?  432 

Sick  are  Healed,  The 790 

Smith,  Hyrum  Mack 377 

Soldiers  and  Tobacco,  The 64 

Spirit  of  Song,  The 939 

Social  Hall,  The 1012 

SONGS 

Farmer   Boy,  The 250 

Hark!     Listen     to     the     Gentle 

Strain    730 

Home  Defense  Song 787 

Invocation  to  Harmony 444 

Marching  Song  of  the  Utah  Na- 
tional Guard  61 

Old  Grey  Mare,  The 524 

Pioneer  Campfire  Song,  A 155 

Teamsters'    Chorus   338 

There's   a   Letter   a-Coming   for 

You   1000 

Spiritual  Aspects  of  the  War 483 

Spiritual    Training    Indispensable 

in  Education  150 

"Stars  and  Stripes,"  The 888 

Status  of  Children  in  the  Resur- 
rection       567 

STORIES 

Aged  Recruit,  An 196 

Amateur  Short  Stories  I,  II 55 

At  St.  Peter's  Gate 45 

Back  to  the  Faith 765 

Coquette    618 

Corporal  Ron  of  the  362nd 489 

Doc.  Keaver's  Christmas  Gift...  117 

Dorothy's  Career  947 

Escane.    The    905 

F^ud,  The  298 

First  at  Last 207 

Forfeits 519 

God's   Way    1042 

How  Like  Us  All 303 

In  the  Midst  of  Fangs 687 

Ladv  of  his  Dreams,  The 16 

Marian's  Profession   676 

Miracle,  The  509 


INDEX  TO  AUTHORS  ix 

PAGE  PAGE 

Mother-Heart    214  To   the   Soldiers   of   the   National 

Only  a  Woman  to  Deal  With...  127       Army  213 

Pink  Pearls  vs.  Self  Respect 959    Tobacco  for  the  Soldiers 885 

Retreat  of  the  Dismal  Night 602    Tragedy   of  Israel,  The 12 

Saint's  Tragedy,  The 399   Tribute  to  Mothers,  A 713 

Streak  of  Gray,  The 987  "Truth,"'  a  New  Mission  Pamphlet  253 

They  Kissed  Again  with  Tears..  437    United  States  Soldier,  A 95 

Victory  for  Peace,  A 420   Utah's   Brigadier   Generals 1075 

With  Saw  and   Saw-horse 1069    Utah's  Detachment  School 995 

Study  of  Evolution,  A 161    Wells,   Bishop   John 937 

Teachers'   Training    Classes 1080    What  is  Spiritual  Death? 191 

remple   Ceremonies   208    What  the   Cigarette   Does 981 

remple  Ordinances,  Blessings  and  What  is  Success?  1086 

Responsibilities    955  Why  America  Entered  the  War...  896 

restimony,  A   710  Why  at  War  and  on  What  Terms 

Testimony  of  a  Japanese  Member  Peace  340 

of  the   Church   815    Why  Boys  Should  Not  Smoke 691 

Thoughts   of  a  Farmer Will  of  God,  The 28* 

319,  537,  671,  813    World's  Potato  Record,  The 979 

Three  Practical  Sermons 66    Wrong  Start,  The 487 

Thrift    40    You  Folks  at  Home 158 

INDEX  TO   AUTHORS 

PAGE  PAGE 

\damson,  Henry  Nicol 437,  905    Foshay,   Milford  W 987 

\llen,  Louis   L. 763   Frost,  Grace  Ingles 

Anderson,  Edward  H 40,  132,  321       149,  241,  758,  786,  1073 

Anderson,  Nephi  45,  519,  759    Gates,  Susa  Young 668 

Anderson,  Venice  Farnsworth..489,  959    Geise,  L.  N.  A 127 

Arnold,  Frank  R 888    Graflin,  Margaret  Johnston 264 

3abcock,   Maud   May 1012    Grant,   Heber   J 64,262,379,  853 

3aggarley,  Maud  312    Greaves,  J.  E 1051 

Baird,  Clarence  499    Guest,  Edgar  A 263,580,  916 

3arnes,  Claud  T 687,  793    Hafen,  Annie  Woodbury 195,  676 

iennett,  Henry  Holcomb 296    Harrington,  Jesse  Frederick 810 

iennett,   Flora   E 429    Harris,  Dr.  Franklin  S 

iennion,  A.  S 174       53,  123,  244,  313,  334,  397 

iest,  Theodore    565   Hickman,  Joseph  117 

Jiddulph,  Samuel  485    Hodapp,   Minnie    Iverson 

Srimhall,  Dr.  George  H...248,  483,  406       34,  122,  675,  779,  1056 

3rooks,   Fred   Emerson 719   House,  Roy  Temple 672 

Bryant,  WiUiam  Cullen 295,  875    Inonye,  G 815 

Carroll,  Elsie  C 298,  509,  1042    Iverson,  Violet  292 

^ary,   Alice   265    Ivie,    Lloyd    F 471 

]oakley,  Thomas  F. 891    Ivins,  Anthony  W 161,  715 

!!ole,   Lou    E 22    Jacraes,  John  263 

Coleman,  W.  J. 516    Jeppson,  Wilmer  695 

"ummings,  D.  W 214   Jordan,    David    Starr 1086 

Curtis,  Theodore  E 28,  60,  880    Kennedy,  Crammond  287 

)aniels,  Secretary  of  the  Navy 202    Kleinman,  Bertha  A 116,  232,  243 

)e  Vinci,  Leonardo 887   Kooyman,  Frank  1 503 

)obson,  Will   420    Lambourne,  Alfred  1,  112, 

Eastman,    Max   403  146,  189,  255,  297,  399,  515,  618, 

Ickersley,  Joseph   144  659,  661,  753,  820,  865,  982,  983,  1027 

Ivans,  Amy  W 16   Larson,   Louis   W 995 

Isher,   Dr.  George   J 984   Latimer,   Wm.    H 523 

letcher,  Samuel  H s 536   Lauritzen,    Annie    G 613 


INDEX  TO  AUTHORS 


PAGE 

Lincoln,  Abraham  283 

Lund,  Anthon  H 395,  847,  856 

Lund,  E.  H 773,  881 

Lyman,  Francis  M 1086 

Lyman,  Richard   R 388,  912 

Lyon,   David   R L44,    95 

McAllister,    D.   M 208,  955 

McMurrin,  Joseph  W 893 

Maughan,  George  H 487 

Merrill,   H.   R 197 

Merrill,  Joseph  J 203 

Merrill,  M.   C 159 

Miller,  0.  P 82 

Moorehead,    Rubetta    614 

Morgan,  Angela  273 

Naisbitt,    Henry    W 726 

Nibley,  Charles  W 66,  387 

Nibley,  Preston   23 

O'Brien,  D.  R 538 

O'Gorman,   H.   M 691 

Olphin,  A  Ray 41 

Olsen,   John    A 729 

Osmond,  Alfred  630 

Otterstrom,  F.  W 97 

Pack,  Dr.  Fredrick  J 432 

Palmer,   Annie   D 765,  947 

Parker,   Aubrey   54 

Parratt,    D.    W 292,426,614,695,  783 

Paul,  J.  H 29,  939 

Pearson,  Sarah  E.  Hawley 288 

Penrose,  Charles  W 290,  479,  1086 

Peters,  T.  McClure  1038 

Peterson,  E.  G 201,  683,  808,  1048 

Porter,    Elizabeth    Cannon 603 

Poulson,   Ezra   J 946 

Pratt,  Rey  L.....". 720 

Quincy,  Josiah  169 

Rees,   A    C. 51 

Reynolds,  Alice  Louise 150 

Richards,    George    F 171 

Richards,   Lula    Greene 525 


PAGE 

Robinson,  Joseph   E 50* 

Roe,  Watkin  L 137 

Romney,  George  730 

Sanderson,   Owen   M 4l8 

Shick,  Stuart  696 

Smedley,  James,  Jr 896 

Smith,  David   A 862 

Smith,  Hyrum  M 25 

Smith,  Joseph  F.,  Jr 191 

Smith,  President  Joseph  F 3,  70, 

167,  448,  567,  631,  639,  732,  755,  859 

Sorenson,  A.  J.  T 50 

Sprague    478 

Stanford,   J.   S 817 

Steele,  Frank  C 52,  350,  518,  877 

Stephens,  Evan   61, 

155,  250,  338,  444,  524,  730,  787,  1000 

Sweet,  F.  H 1069 

Talmage,  James  E 

12,  114,  171,  256,  285, 

383,  404,  473,  623,  727,  819,  993,  1029 
Tanner,  Joseph  M. 

233,  304,  319,  407,  446,  526,  537, 

591,  671,  700,  794,  813,  866,  971,  1057 

Taylor,  Frank  Y 385 

Thomas,  W.  G.  M 581 

Wells,  Junius  F 8,  48,    i075 

West,  Joseph  A 790,  902,  1065 

Whitney,  Orson  F 169,  381 

Whittier   617 

Widtsoe,  Dr.  John  A 

672,  780,  886,  1032,  1086 

Widtsoe,  Osborne  J.  P 330 

Wiley,  Dr.  Harvey  W 931 

Wilcox,   Ella   Wheeler 686 

Wilson,  President  Woodrow 

213,  340,  575,  1100 

Woolf,   De   Voe 806 

Wordsworth    : 698 

Young,  Levi  Edgar 35 

Young,   Seymour  B 862 


ijlllllllllllllllllllllllllimillllllllllllllllltllllllllllllllllllllllllllinilllllllll III! Illlllllllllllllllll Illlllllllllllllll tllllltlllllllllllllllllll  = 


THE  GREAT  IDEAL. 

Through  baltle  clouds  there  shines  a  sacred  light, 
Where  roar  the  guns  and  bursts  the  deadly  shell, 
Where  love  and  mercy  lie  in  darkest  night, 
Lost  in  the  passions  of  the  lords  of  hell. 
High,  far  beyond  the  conflagration's  glare, 
Clear  to  the  inner  sight  that  splendor  lies, 
The  brave  look  onward  and  they  see  it  there, 
A  hope  of  Freedom  written  on  the  skies. 
Lo,  now  all  radiant  the  message  glows, 
As  though  our  age  had  ever  been  the  goal; 
Of  fear  this  hour  none  but  the  coward  knows, 
To  win  or  die  is  in  the  daring  soul: 

War,  carnage,  shame,  old  hatreds,  blinded  strife, 
Shall  end  in  Freedom — Man's  long  dream  of  life ! 

Alfred  Lambourne. 


.11  niiiiii  inn  in  iiiiiin  in  iinnii  nun  in mi  i  nun innnnninininnnninninininniniii nnininiiiinninininniinnininimnniiniiiniinn 


THE  FIRST  HOG  ISLAND  LAUNCHING 

The  first  ship  fabricated  at  the  Hog  Island  yard  was  launched  in  the 
presence  of  President  Wilson  and  other  Government  officials.  The  vessel, 
one  of  110  identical  7,500  ton,  eleven  and  one-half  knot  cargo  carriers,  to  be 
built  at  the  biggest  shipyard  in  the  world,  was  christened  the  Quistconck, 
by  Mrs.  Wilson,  that  having  been  the  name  by  which  the  Indians  knew  Hog 
Island. 

The  President  and  Mrs.  Wilson  made  the  trip  in  a  special  train  which 
ran  directly  to  the  launching  platform. 

Less  than  a  year  ago  Hog  Island  was  a  mosquito-ridden,  barren  waste 
of  mud.  Today,  its  846  acres  have  been  converted  into  a  yard  capable  of 
launching  from  three  to  five  vessels  a  week.  Before  December  31  it  is  esti- 
mated that  fifty  more  vessels  will  have  followed  the  Quistconck  down  the 
ways;  and  before  a  year  is  out,  it  is  expected  that  the  entire  initial  order 
for  180  vessels  will  have  been  executed.  In  addition  to  the  cargo  vessels 
there  will  be  seventy  8,000-ton  15-knot  transports. 

The  photograph  gives  a  general  view  of  the  boat  going  down  the  ways, 
with  President  Wilson  waving  his  hat,  and  Mrs.  Wilson  standing  at  his  left. 


IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


Vol.  21  OCTOBER,  1918  No.  12 


M 


Mormonism"  and  the  War 


By  James  E.  Talmage,  of  the  Council  of  the  Twelve 


The  proinpt  and  liberal  response  of  "Mormon"  commun- 
ities to  the  Nation's  call  for  concerted  and  determined  effort 
in  the  current  world  crisis  is  very  generally  known,  thanks  to 
the  generous  liberality  of  the  press  and  the  commendable  free- 
dom fostered  by  the  potent  spirit  of  the  times. 

Liberty  Bond  quotas,  Red  Cross  apportionments,  War  Sav- 
ings allotments,  all  have  been  largely  over-subscribed  in  every 
"Mormon"  city,  town  and  hamlet.  In  addition  to  the  generous 
contributions  of  its  members  as  individuals,  the  Church  as  a 
body  has  devoted  half  a  million  dollars  to  Liberty  Bond  pur- 
chases, and  this  was  done  on  unanimous  vote  of  the  member- 
ship in  general  conference  assembled. 

But  beyond  all  contributions  measured  in  terms  of  money, 
is  the  unhesitating  response  of  men,  who  have  leaped  to  their 
places  in  the  ranks  by  thousands  for  the  hundreds  asked,  offer- 
ing their  lives  in  pledge  of  patriotic  devotion. 

In  this  ready  and  whole-souled  cooperation  the  "Mormon" 
people  claim  neither  preeminence  nor  special  credit.  They 
have  tried  to  do  their  part  in  common  with  the  mighty  citi- 
zenry of  our  land.  All  classes  in  Utah  and  adjacent  states  are 
working  shoulder  to  shoulder,  without  distinction  as  to  former 
nationality  or  present  creed. 

In  addition  to  the  imperative  demands  of  citizenship,  to 
which  the  Latter-day  Saints  are  responding  with  unsurpassed 
devotion  and  zeal,  our  people  consider  duty  in  the  present 
crisis  as  a  requirement  of  their  religious  profession.  We  have 
particular  concern  in  the  outcome  of  the  great  conflict,  for  we 
solemnly  proclaim  that  to  this  Church  has  been  given  the  divine 
appointment  to  preach  the  restored  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  in 
all   the  world;    and  the   discharge   of  this  high   commission   is 


1030  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

possible  in  its  entirety  only  as  free  speech,  liberty  of  conscience, 
and  a  free  press  are  insured  among  the  nations. 

The  frightful  war  forced  upon  liberty-loving  peoples  is  a 
belated  attempt  on  the  part  of  Lucifer  to  try  anew  the  issue  on 
which  he  was  defeated  in  the  primeval  world,  as  the  Scriptures 
attest.  His  plan  of  compulsion,  by  which  every  soul  would  be 
bereft  of  agency,  was  rejected  in  the  council  of  the  heavens,  and 
the  plan  of  liberty  and  individual  freedom  was  adopted,  with 
Jesus  Christ  as  the  fore-ordained  Redeemer  of  the  race. 

The  decision  brought  war,  and  Lucifer  and  his  hordes  were 
cast  out  upon  the  earth.  In  these  last  days  that  same  Lucifer, 
or  Satan,  as  he  is  now  known,  is  operating  through  those  who 
are  ready  to  do  his  bidding,  to  rivet  the  shackles  of  monarchial 
despotism  upon  mankind. 

Autocracy  is  the  form  of  government  that  prevails  in  hell; 
and  individual  freedom  is  the  basal  principle  of  the  gospel  of 
Jesus  Christ.  Any  man  who  seeks  to  enforce  unrighteous 
dominion  upon  his  fellows  is  the  devil's  own  agent. 

Citizenship  in  the  kingdom  of  God  is  offered  to  all  men 
on  equal  terms,  for  truly  God  is  no  respecter  of  persons.  The 
Church  proclaims  this  fundamental  tenet  in  her  Article  of 
Faith:  "We  believe  that  through  the  atonement  of  Christ,  all 
mankind  may  be  saved,  by  obedience  to  the  laws  and  ordinances 
of  the  gospel." 

Obedience  to  righteous  law  is  an  essential  of  true  liberty. 
That  liberty,  falsely  so  called,  which  regards  not  the  rights  of 
others,  is  but  evil  license  for  selfish  dominion  with  all  its  attend- 
ant abominations. 

Our  missionary  elders  have  time  and  again  been  imprisoned 
in  Germany,  and  others  have  been  forcibly  banished  from  the 
empire  of  boasted  kultur,  because  they  bore  the  message  of 
freedom  and  individual  agency.  Formerly  they  went  into  that 
land  with  only  the  Scriptures  and  their  own  testimony  of  the 
truth  as  weapons  in  the  conflict  with  sin.  Now  many  of  those 
selfsame  men  are  on  their  way  back  wearing  the  uniform  of 
the  Nation,  and  with  Browning  guns  as  their  instruments  of 
persuasion. 

The  world  is  preparing  for  the  consummation  of  the  ages, 
which  is  the  second  coming  of  Christ.  It  is  wise  to  be  on  guard 
against  spurious  prognostications  as  to  the  precise  time  of  the 
great  event,  for,  as  the  Scriptures  affirm,  this  shall  not  be  reveal- 
ed even  to  the  angels  in  heaven.  Nevertheless,  every  day  wit- 
nesses the  ripening  of  the  specified  signs  into  actualities.  The 
conditions  set  forth  by  Christ  and  His  apostles  as  characteristic 
of  the  day  of  His  coming  are  being  realized  with  the  exactness 
of  detailed  fulfilment. 


MORMONISM"  AND  THE  WAR 


1031 


The  world  war,  with  all  its  frightful  atrocities  incident  to 
autocracy's  determination  to  subvert  the  God-given  birthright 
of  agency  and  national  freedom,  is  one  of  the  most  significant 
of  the  portentous  signs  of  the  times. 

Heaven  offers  her  bounties  to  man;  his  title  thereto  must 
be  established  by  effort. 

"Mormonism"  holds  that  right  shall  yet  triumph,  tyranny 
be  overthrown,  and  the  liberties  of  mankind  be  established  and 
made  to  endure. 


©  Underwood  &  Underwood,  New  York 


INHABITANTS   OF   CHATEAU-THIERRY  GOING  TO   GREET  THEIR 
AMERICAN  LIBERATORS 

In  this,  one  of  the  first  pictures  to  reach  this  country  of  the  battle  of 
Chateau-Thierry,  are  shown  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  who  remained  dur- 
ing the  German  occupation,  walking  through  the  destroyed  streets,  going  to 
meet  the  American  soldiers,  to  thank  them  for  their  deliverance  from  the 
German  fiends. 

"Next  door  to  hell"  was  the  way  one  soldier  described  the  battle,  and 
his  assertion  was  not  far  from  right,  judging  from  the  ruin  and  desolation 
left  behind  by  the  retreating  Germans  whom  the  Americans  drove  back 
with  a  courage  that  insured  the  turning  point  of  the  war. 


The  Cause  of  the  War* 


By  Dr.  John  A.  Widtsot 


My  fellow  workers, — It  seems  almost  unnecessary,  after  the 
vivid  address  of  our  Australian  friend,  to  discuss,  at  this  late 
hour,  the  facts  behind  the  war.  There  is  only  one  great  fact 
in  our  minds,  after  hearing  our  friend  from  the  trenches  speak — 
the  fact  that  we  are  at  war;  that  we  are  in  the  business  of  win- 
ning the  war;  that  we  must  remain  in  the  war  until  it  is  ended; 
and  that  we  must  come  out  of  the  war  victoriously,  so  that  the 
world  may  be  free.  With  President  Grant's  permission,  there- 
fore, in  view  of  the  message  given  us  by  our  soldier  friend,  and 
because  of  the  far  spent  time,  I  shall  not  attempt  to  give  you 
the  outlined  talk  that  I  brought  with  me  this  morning,  but  shall 
call  your  attention  to  some  of  the  outstanding  facts  that  may  be 
used  in  the  war  programs  that  may  be  given  throughout  the 
Church. 

I  suppose  every  Mutual  worker  and  all  the  members  of  the 
Church  are  familiar  with  the  few  simple  facts  upon  which 
rests  our  attitude  with  respect  to  the  war.  If  these  facts  are  not 
understood,  they  should  be  known  by  every  member  of  the 
Church;  for  there  is  no  organization  in  the  world  that  has  a 
deeper  interest  in  the  progress  and  the  outcome  of  this  great 
world  war  than  the  organization  known  as  the  Church  of  Jesus 
Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints.  Though  we  may  know  well  the 
facts  upon  which  President  Wilson  rested  his  message  to  Con- 
gress, and  as  a  result  of  which  war  was  declared  with  Germany, 
it  may  be  helpful  to  review  in  the  various  wards  and  stakes  of 
Zion  these  facts,  that  our  courage  may  not  grow  faint  and  that 
our  loyalty  may  remain  undimmed  and  untarnished. 

I  may  remind  you  that  this  great  war  is  an  effect  of  many 
causes — some  very  evident  and  near,  some  not  so  evident,  but 
remote.  This  war  did  not  come  out  of  a  clear  sky.  It  did  not 
simply  happen,  but  came  as  a  result  of  things  that  have  occurred 
through  generations  of  time.  When  the  war  broke  out  in  1914 
the  people  of  this  country  were  occupied  in  their  crdinary  pur- 
suits— a  peaceful  and  peace-loving  people.  We  desired  no 
quarrel  with  the  world.  We  attempted  to  keep  out  of  all  kinds 
of  disputes  with  our  neighbors.  We  did  not  maintain  an  elab- 
orate spy  svstem;  we  had  no  involved  secret  diplomacy;  for  a 
democracy  does  not  lend  itself  easily  to  the  spy  system  or  to 


*An  address  delivered  at  the  annual  M.  I.  A.  Conference,  June  7,  1918, 
following  an  address  on  experiences  in  the  war,  by  Capt.  Walter  K.  Harris, 
of  the  Australian  Army. 


THE  CAUSE  OF  THE  WAR  1033 

secret  diplomacy.  Such  things  are  confined  to  monarchial  forms 
of  government,  the  forms  of  government  that  are  passing  out 
of  existence  and  will  be  largely  of  the  past  when  this  war  is 
ended.  We  were  going  about  in  our  own  way  to  develop  our 
natural  resources,  and  contending  simply  for  the  right  to  work 
out  on  this  land,  in  this  hemisphere,  our  form  of  government — 
a  government  by  the  people,  so  that  the  people  may  be  free — 
a  government  which  does  not  depend  upon  a  king  or  upon  a 
military  class,  but  which  does  depend,  for  its  power  and  in- 
fluence, upon  the  will  of  the  people  governed.  That  was  all  we 
asked  of  the  world;  and  we  were  determined,  as  we  are  deter- 
mined today,  that  no  power  on  earth  shall  come  in  and  destroy 
our  experiment  in  free  government.  On  that  point  we  are  all 
united.  We  propose  to  stand  together  to  the  last  in  behalf  of  this 
great  experiment  in  free  government  which  we  believe,  and 
which  all  sane  thinkers  of  the  world  today  believe  is  a  solution 
of  the  social  difficulties  that  vex  the  world  today. 

During  all  these  years,  in  order  to  maintain  our  right  to 
work  out  our  experiment  in  free  government,  we  had  asked  the 
world  to  recognize  three  things,  three  main  principles.  If  the 
American  people  will  keep  them  in  mind,  it  will  be  easier  to 
understand  the  causes  back  of  this  war: 

First:  We  insisted  upon  the  recognition  of  the  Monroe 
doctrine,  which  simply  meant  that  we  would  not  permit  any 
European  or  foreign  power  to  come  to  these  shores,  or  to  this 
hemisphere  and  become  a  power  here,  so  that  our  work  for  the 
freedom  of  the  world  might  be  endangered.  At  the  same  time 
we  agreed  that  we  would  keep  out  of  Europe;  we  would  not 
attempt  to  interfere  with  European  politics.  We  wanted  to  be 
left  free  to  work  out  our  big  experiment  for  the  good  of  man- 
kind. 

Second:  We  insisted  that  the  world  recognize  the  freedom 
of  the  seas,  so  that  we  might  carry  on  commerce  with  the  world. 
In  spite  of  the  fact  that  we  were  located  thousands  of  miles 
away  from  the  older  and  more  thickly  settled  domain  of  the 
world,  we  might  still,  by  the  use  of  the  seas,  have  free  com- 
munication with  our  neighbors  in  every  part  of  the  world. 

Third:  We  insisted  that  all  our  disputes  with  other  nations 
should  be  settled  by  the  method  of  arbitration. 

If  you  will  read  the  history  of  the  last  hundred  years,  you 
will  find  that  the  United  States  of  America  has  simply  asked 
that  these  three  principles  be  recognized — the  Monroe  Doctrine, 
the  freedom  of  the  seas,  and  the  arbitration  of  difficulties  that 
might  arise  between  us  and  other  nations. 

Let  me  now  call  your  attention  to  the  fact  that  the  German 
government,  which  stupefied  this  country  when  it  began  the 


1034  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

war  in  Europe,  has  been  unwilling  to  recognize  any  of  these 
fundamental  principles  upon  which  we  rest  our  claims  with 
respect  to  the  world. 

We  tried  to  be  neutral  when  the  war  broke  out.  We  re- 
fused to  be  drawn  into  it.  Our  President  issued  a  manifesto 
asking  all  the  good  citizens  of  the  land  to  remain  strictly  neutral. 
It  was  difficult  to  he  neutral  when  a  power  across  the  sea  invaded 
small  countries,  murdered  innocent  children  and  women,  killed 
the  manhood  of  a  country  and  destroyed  the  heritage  of  the 
past  by  burning  and  wrecking  great  buildings,  libraries,  pictures, 
monuments  to  the  thought  and  skill  of  generations  of  men.  We 
were  loath  to  believe  that  the  German  government  could  lend 
itself  to  such  practices;  yet  we  all  know,  whether  we  like  it  or 
not,  that  the  German  government,  which  is  controlling  the  Ger- 
man people,  has  lent  itself  to  every  possible  outrage  that  can 
be  devised  by  the  human  mind.  In  spite  of  the  insults  to  civil- 
ization that  were  hurled  at  us,  this  country  attempted  to  re- 
main neutral,  but  we  were  not  allowed  to  remain  so. 

Almost  at  the  beginning  of  the  war  an  anti-United  States 
propaganda  was  started  by  the  German  government  at  home  and 
abroad,  based  largely  upon  the  claim  that  we  were  furnishing 
munitions  to  other  countries;  and  we  were  asked  to  stop  our 
trade  with  other  nations.  We  were  requested  to  remain  here, 
as  if  we  were  on  an  island  of  the  sea,  quiet  and  subservient,  tak- 
ing orders  from  a  power  which  was  showing  itself  unfit  for 
leadership  among  the  nations  of  the  world. 

We  soon  learned  that  spies,  sent  out  by  the  German  govern- 
ment, were  honeycombing  our  country  and  other  countries.  They 
were  down  in  Mexico,  over  in  Japan,  in  the  Latin  republics  of 
America. 

They  had  one  message  to  deliver:  "Let  us  all  get  together 
and  destroy  the  United  States  of  America."  The  Monroe  Doc- 
trine was  being  ignored  absolutely  by  the  German  government 
in  its  propaganda.  You  will  all  remember  the  Zimmerman 
note,  so-called,  in  which  the  German  government  proposed  to 
Mexico  that  if  she  would  join  with  Japan  and  certain  other 
countries,  to  fight  this  country,  Texas  and  New  Mexico  and 
Arizona  would  be  ceded  to  Mexico.  These  things  became  known, 
little  by  little,  as  the  war  went  on.  The  German  government, 
within  the  first  three  years  of  the  war,  said,  in  actions  if  not  in 
words,  "We  do  not  believe  in  the  Monroe  Doctrine.  We  shall 
not  respect  it;  we  shall  do  all  we  can  to  overthrow  it." 

Soon  after  the  war  broke  out,  sea  troubles  also  began.  Un- 
protected" zones  were  established  within  which  U-boats  and  other 
destructive  craft  might  operate,  even  to  the  extent  of  destroying 
vessels     of    neutral     countries     and     drowning     or     destroying 


THE  CAUSE  OF  THE  WAR  1035 

passengers  on  neutral  ships,  who  were  on  their  way  to  neutral 
countries.  After  some  time  this  submarine  warfare  became  ruth- 
less, until  there  was  nothing  left  but  to  believe,  at  least  as  far 
as  our  government  was  concerned,  that  the  freedom  of  the  seas 
was  no  longer  a  principle  held  in  respect  by  the  German  gov- 
ernment. It  said  in  substance:  "We  do  not  belive  in  the  free- 
dom of  the  seas.  We  shall  keep  you  on  your  sea-bound  con- 
tinent and  make  you  separate  and  apart  from  the  rest  of  the 
world." 

Long  before  the  war  broke  out,  in  spite  of  our  repeated 
requests,  the  German  government,  almost  alone  in  its  views 
among  the  great  powers  of  the  world,  had  said  to  us  defiantly: 
"We  will  not  submit  any  of  our  difficulties  to  a  treaty  of  arbitra- 
tion; we  will  not  have  such  a  treaty." 

In  other  words,  all  the  things  for  which  we  have  stood, 
sacred  rights  to  us  because  upon  them  depends  the  future  of 
popular  government,  were  all  dishonored  by  the  German  gov- 
ernment. There  was  nothing  else  for  us  to  do  than  to  declare 
war  on  such  a  government,  that  we,  ourselves,  and  the  great 
cause  of  our  land,  might  live  and  be  protected. 

The  steps  that  led  immediately  to  the  declaration  of  war 
may  be  followed  in  the  President's  so-called  War  Message,  which 
is  printed  in  the  first  number  of  the  war  information  series  and 
entitled  "The  War  Message  and  the  Facts  Behind  It,"  contain- 
ing the  annotated  speech  of  the  President  on  April  2,  1917.  (See 
Improvement  Era,  May,  1917,  Vol.  20,  No.  7,  for  speech  in  full.) 

There  are  other  great  and  grave  causes  back  of  the  war 
which  the  time  does  not  permit  me  to  discuss.  It  is  an  uncivil- 
ized warfare,  and  many  of  us  doubt  if  we  may  in  justice  remain 
neutral  in  the  face  of  a  return  to  barbarism.  There  has  been 
also  a  distinct  attempt  for  many  years  on  the  part  of  the  Ger- 
man government  to  impose  German  "kultur"  upon  all  the  world, 
that  is,  to  make  the  world  see  as  they  see.  If  this  were  the  place 
and  time  I  could  give  you  my  own  personal  experience  to  show 
you  how  vigorous  yet  subtle  was  the  attempt  in  all  parts  of  the 
country  to  impose  German  kultur  upon  us.  As  one  American,  I 
refuse  to  have  anybody's  kultur  imposed  upon  me.  I  live  in  a 
free  country,  and  am  free  to  express  myself  and  to  belong  to 
the  majority  or  the  minority  as  the  case  may  be,  from  year  to 
year,  but  always  to  let  the  popular  will  rule  me  and  my  actions 
in  a  governmental  way. 

Finally,  we  may  as  well  remember  that  the  great,  big  over- 
whelming cause  of  the  war,  the  reason  why  we  are  in  the  war 
and  wish  to  remain  in  it  to  the  end,  is  that  one  great  system  of 
government  is  opposed  to  another  system  of  government.  The 
one  system  says  that  a  man,  ordinarily  in  power  because  he  is 


1036  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

born  of  a  certain  father,  shall  stand  at  the  head  of  a  nation,  and 
through  a  controlling,  self-protective  military  machine,  shall 
speak  to  the  people  and  compel  their  obedience.  The  people 
under  this  system  shall  have  little  or  no  voice  in  the  manage- 
ment of  their  own  affairs.  The  other  system  declares  that  with- 
in the  majority  of  the  people  lies  the  power  of  government,  and 
that  they  may  select  men  to  govern  them  for  one,  or  twenty,  or 
a  hundred,  or  more  years,  but  that  the  power  remains  with 
the  people.  This  latter  system  says  that  there  is  no  place  in  this, 
world  for  war;  that  this  is  a  world  in  which  justice  and  peace 
must  reign;  and  that  our  government  must  be  so  established 
that  cannons  and  rifles  and  poisonous  gases  will  be  removed 
from  the  possibility  of  destroying  human  life;  that  there  is  noth- 
ing more  precious  upon  the  face  of  the  earth  than  human  lives, 
and  that  these  lives  must  be  guarded  and  guided  and  allowed  to 
develop  to  serve  the  God  they  worship,  and  to  develop  the 
earth  which  has  been  given  them.  Shall  autocracy  rule,  or 
shall  democracy  prevail?     That  is  the  question. 

We  are  fighting  today,  in  a  small  way,  the  fight  that  was 
waged  in  the  heavens,  according  to  our  own  doctrine,  long  be- 
fore we  came  to  the  earth.  We  were  assembled  in  a  great 
gathering,  to  discuss  the  journey  to  the  earth  and  the  life  we 
were  to  lead  here.  The  Father  of  the  race  laid  before  us  his 
plan.  "I  will  send  you  down  there.  I  am  the  Master  of  men, 
because  I  am  the  possessor  of  the  largest  knowledge;  and  we 
shall  so  arrange  things  that  you,  my  children,  may  know  the 
law;  and  as  you  succeed  in  obeying  and  living  the  law,  so 
shall  your  greatness  before  me  be."  It  was  not  wholly  an  in- 
viting program,  because  men  are  likely  to  fall,  always,  when  they 
have  the  freedom  of  choice,  but  it  was  God's  plan,  a  pure  and 
perfect  plan.  Then  Lucifer  arose  and  said:  "I  have  a  better 
plan.  I  will  take  these  people  with  me.  I  shall  be  the  master. 
I  shall  see  that  every  one  of  them  shall  live  in  joy  and  happiness, 
They  shall  have  all  they  want  to  eat  and  fire  houses  to  live  in, 
and  I  shall  see  to  it  that  the  life  journey  is  a  beautiful,  happy 
one,  and  I  shall  save  every  one  of  them  without  any  effort  on 
their  own  part."  By  God's  plan  every  soul  would  be  obliged  to 
earn  its  own  salvation;  by  Lucifer's  plan,  salvation  will  be  forced 
upon  every  one,  irrespective  of  deserts.  God's  plan  is  natural 
and  wholesome — Lucifer's  plan  was  unnatural  and  forbidding. 
One  was  good ;  the  other  was  evil. 

Today  the  world  is  fighting  out  the  age-old  issue.  Shall 
man  govern  himself,  though  he  makes  mistakes  at  times, — or 
shall  government  be  imposed  upon  him,  even  though  the  gov- 
ernment be  of  perfect  precision?  We  of  this  land  and  this 
Church  have  long  since   answered  the   question.      Government 


THE  CAUSE  OF  THE  WAR  1037 

by  the  people  is  right;  government  imposed  upon  the  people  is 
wrong.  We  shall  remain  with  the  right.  Though  our  life- 
blood  be  shed,  we  mean' to  fight  for  the  right  to  be  free  against 
any  evil  power,  like  that  of  Lucifer's,  that  would  impose  its 
sugar-coated  bitterness,  its  "kultur"  upon  us. 


Scouts  and  the  Tobacco  Problem 


No.  11  of  the  Scout  law  declares:  "A  Scout  is  clean:  He 
keeps  clean  in  body  and  thought;  he  stands  for  clean  speech, 
clean  sport,  clean  habits;  and  he  travels  with  a  clean  crowd." 
A  scoutmaster  must  be  all  that  his  scouts  are.  He  has  an  unclean 
habit  if  he  uses  tobacco,  and  is  not  fit  to  lead  the  boys.  An  arti- 
cle in  Scouting,  the  National  Headquarters  publication,  Boy 
Scouts  of  America,  declares  as  a  belief  what  the  M.  I.  A.  Scouts 
of  the  Boy  Scouts  of  America  know  to  be  a  fact  proven  by 
practice : 

At  a  recent  Field  Department  Conference  at  National  Headquarters  the 
following  recommendations  and  suggestions  were  formulated: 

It  is  the  sense  of  the  Field  Department  that  its  representatives  should 
not  smoke  when  on  official  scout  business.  This  relates  to  regular  office 
hours  and  to  personal  interviews  and  meetings  in  the  conduct  of  the  field. 
It  is  also  the  view  of  the  members  of  the  Field  Department  that  the  Na- 
tional organization  of  the  Boy  Scouts  of  America  encourage  similar  practice 
among  all  of  its  employed  officers. 

The  Field  Department  will  not  recommend  for  employment  by  any  local 
council  of  the  Boy  Scouts  of  America  any  man  who  is  a  habitual  smoker  of 
cigarettes. 

While  it  may  not  be  within  the  province  of  the  Field  Department  to 
make  such  recommendation,  it  is  our  belief  that  the  influence  of  the  Boy 
Scouts  of  America  throughout  the  nation  would  be  greatly  enhanced  by  a 
regulation  forbidding  the  use  of  tobacco  in  connection  with  any  Boy  Scout 
camp  or  on  hikes.  Further,  it  is  the  hope  of  the  men  of  the  Field  Depart- 
ment that  all  volunteer  workers  with  Boy  Scouts,  whether  acting  in  the 
capacity  of  commissioners,  deputy  commissioners,  scoutmasters,  and  assistant 
scoutmasters,  may  give  thoughtful  consideration  to  this  question  as  it  affects 
their  relationships  with  boys  of  the  organization. 

We  go  a  step  further  and  say  that  no  man  should  be  a 
teacher  or  leader  of  boys  who  smokes  at  all  or  at  any  time. 
Why  be  a  hypocrite  and  avoid  smoking  only  when  not  seen? 
Another  scoutmaster  in  the  same  article  in  Scouting  hits  the  nail 
on  the  head  in  the  following: 

A  local  minister  preached  a  sermon  to  our  local  scouts  last  Sunday  eve- 
ning, and  a  very  good  sermon  it  was,  with  but  one  exception,  and  that  was 
on  this  very  question  of  smoking.  He  had  better  not  said  anything  about  it 
at  all  than  to  say  what  he  did.  He  told  the  boys  not  to  smoke,  and  at  the 
same  time  apologized  for  smoking  himself,  saying  he  did  not  have  the 
training  that  the  boys  do  now.  A  few  minutes  before  this  he  told  the  boys 
it  was  not  honorable  to  hide  behind  excuses. 

I  think  the  whole  question  is,  let  the  scout  officials  first  cut  out  the 
habit,  for  this  they  must  do  if  they  want  an  earnest  appeal  to  their  boys. 


The  Shepherd  of  the  Range 


I. 

From  Pyrenees  to  Utah's  hills  I  came. 
In  summer  suns,  I  herd  complaining  flocks 
Far  up  her  steep  and  brushy  mountain  slopes, 
Or  drive  them  through  the  pointed  canyon  rocks 
To  lofty  summit  pastures,  fresh  and  sweet 
And  gay  with  snowy,  fragile  Columbine 
And  proud  pentstemons'  gaudy  azure  bells, 
To  air  as  pure  and  strong  as  Provence  wine, 
And  watch  them  spread  about  like  driven  snow 
In  moving,  bleating  masses  rude  and  strange ; — 
I,  with  my  book  before  me  on  a  rock, 
I,  a  poor  lonely  shepherd  of  the  Range. 

II. 


When  winter's  silvery  mantle  settles  down, 
Covering  the  naked  peaks  against  his  cold, 
And  firs  stand  black  in  dazzling  wastes  of  white, 
And  sinking  suns  transmute  the  hills  to  gold, 
I,  with  my  bleating  charges,  following  down, 
Seek  deserts  dry  where  sage  and  shadscale  grow, 
And  sage  cocks  strut,  and  the  sad  coyotes  call, 
And  never  hear  the  pleasant  waters  flow; 
Here  browses  wide  on  meager  winter  feed 
The  fretting  flock,  and  I,  in  quarters  strange, 
Open  my  book  again  and  read  and  read, 
I,  a  poor  lonely  shepherd  of  the  Range. 


THE  SHEPHERD  OF  THE  RANGE  1039 


III. 

I  read  the  story  of  the  Son  of  Man 

From  Matthew,  Mark,  and  Luke,  and  holy  John; 

All  that  He  ever  did,  or  said,  or  thought, 

Closing  my  book,  I  like  to  think  upon; 

On  Christinas  eve  I  hear  the  angels  sing, 

As  other  shepherds  heard;  I,  too,  rejoice, 

And  hold  the  peace  they  promise  in  my  heart, 

Of  all  His  gifts  the  holiest  and  most  choice: 

These  are  the  pastures  of  my  hungry  soul; 

That  other  men  should  pass  them  by,  how  strange 

It  seems,  but  I  am  ignorant,  I  know, — 

Only  a  lonely  shepherd  of  the  Range. 


IV. 


I  hear  men  say,  who  seem  to  me  quite  sane, 
That  holy  Jesus  never  walked  the  earth; 
Others,  that  never  either  God  or  man 
Entered  life's  portals  through  a  virgin  birth. 
Some  say  a  man  named  Jesus  lived  and  died, 
But  that  his  life  was  never  rightly  told; 
But  many  things  were  added  or  left  out 
By  them  that  wrote  these  gospel  books  of  old. 
It  may  be  so.    I  have  so  little  lore; 
The  miracles,  I  know,  are  passing  strange; 
I  often  skip  them  when  I  read  the  book 
Here  in  the  bleating  silence  of  the  Range. 

V. 

I  think  at  times  on  this    that  men  have  said, 
With  troubled  mind,  and  to  myself  I  say, — 
We  often  speak  thus  to  our  other  selves, 
You  know  it  is  the  lonely  shepherd's  way: — 
What  matters  it  what  men  say  of  the  Christ, 
Or  even  doubt  he  ever  walked  the  earth? 
Since  from  the  first  I  read  these  gospel  books 
The  Jesus  of  my  soul  has  had  his  birth: 
His  power  as  great  as  if  in  flesh  and  blood; 
The  truths  He  told  of  goodness  do  not  change; 
I  worship  though  men  say  he  never  was, 
I,  a  poor  lonely  shepherd  of  the  Range. 


1040 


IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


VI. 


I  care  not  how  these  gospel  books  were  writ, 

By  man  or  God,  it  matters  not  to  me, 

My  Christ,  by  these  four  books,  has  lived  and  died, 

And  now  lives  on  to  all  eternity. 

I  see  no  need  for  weary  argument; 

I  love  my  holy  Christ  and  tend  my  sheep ; 

His  gentle  words  are  written  in  my  heart. 

O,  Holy  One,  thy  faithful  shepherd  keep. 

But  when  I  tell  this  to  the  men  I  see, 

They  say  my  words  are  something  more  than  strange, 

And  shake  their  heads,  and  with  a  patient  smile 

Leave  me,  the  lonely  shepherd  of  the  Range. 


VII. 


The  evening  sun  has  tinged  to  rose  the  snow, 
The  dogs  with  eager  eyes  wait  my  command, 
The  tinted  hills  through  wintry  hazes  seen 
Seem  like  the  shores  of  some  far  distant  land; 
Soon  will  my  fire  blaze  up  with  cheerful  glow 
And  spicy  sage  like  incense  bite  the  air, 
And  gathering  night  awake  the  wistful  owl 
And  draw  the  coyote  from  his  chilly  lair: 
And  I  shall  lie  beneath  the  cold,  bright  stars 
Unlet  by  priests  or  doubts  or  creeds  that  change, 
And  worship  God,  the  Christ  I  know  so  well, 
I,  a  poor  lonely  shepherd  of  the  Range. 

T.  McClure  Peters. 


SALUTES  OF  THE  ALLIED  SOLDIERS 


Each  of  the  Allied  soldiers  represented  here  is  giving  the  military 
salute  of  his  country.  It  is  exceedingly  interesting  to  note  that  the  signs  of 
respect  of  each  of  our  Allies  are  different  with  the  exception  of  the  Bel- 
gian and  Czecho-Slovak,  which  are  nearly  alike.  They  are  represented  in 
this  photo  starting  at  the  top  from  left  to  right:  English,  American,  Bel- 
gian, Greek,  Italian,  Polish,  Portuguese,  Serbian  and  Czecho-Slovak. 


God's  Way 

By  Elsie  Chamberlain  Carroll 

"Here  is  a  letter  from  the  President.  He  wants  us  to  go 
down  through  the  western  part  of  the  state  and  canvass  a  number 
of  towns  that  haven't  been  worked  for  a  long  time,  and  through 

which  a  Rev.  N has  been  spreading  his  influence  against  us." 

Elder  Simpson  handed  an  open  letter  to  his  companion  beside 
him  on  the  park  bench  just  outside  of  the  post  office.  The  letter 
was  perused  in  silence,  though  the  young  man's  face  showed 
some  agitation. 

"Elder  Simpson,  I  don't  see  why  the  Lord  permits  such  men 

as  this  N to  go  about  doing  all  the  harm  they   do,"  he 

burst  out  indignantly  when  the  letter  was  finished.  "Why,  one 
man  like  that  does  more  to  injure  the  cause  than  the  good  a 
dozen  of  us  missionaries  can  do." 

"0  no,  Elder  Crane,  I  think  you  are  mistaken.  Of  course, 
we  Elders  suffer  some  unpleasant  consequences  from  the  work 
of  such  men,  but  on  the  whole  they  do  more  good  than  harm 
for  the  Church.  They  succeed  in  drawing  the  attention  of 
people  we  could  never  reach.  It  is  all  good  advertising,  and 
after  all  that  is  a  big  help.  The  Lord  has  a  peculiar  way  of 
turning  the  effort  of  his  enemies  to  the  ultimate  good  of  his 
cause.  There  is  something  about  the  gospel  message  that  no 
matter  how  it  is  distorted  by  the  foes  of  truth  it  still  echoes  a 
familiar  tone  in  the  souls  of  the  true  sons  and  daughters  of 
Israel,  and  many  an  honest  heart  has  been  aroused  to  investigate 
the  truth  by  having  it  traduced."  The  man  spoke  earnestly  and 
as  his  companion  did  not  reply  he  continued. 

"When  the  keys  for  the  gathering  of  Israel  were  committed 
to  God's  servants  in  this  last  dispensation,  they  were  promised 
that  his  power  would  accompany  the  message  which  they  were 
asked  to  bear,  and  that  the  honest  in  heart — the  blood  of  Israel — 
would  know  the  call  of  their  Shepherd.  I  have  heard  of  a 
number  of  conversions,  for  instance,  that  can  be  traced  directlv 
to  the  curiosity  aroused  by  this  same  Mr.  N — ." 

"That  may  be  true,"  the  younger  man  admitted  relunctantly, 
"but  I  don't  relish  the  thought  of  going  along  in  the  fellow's 
wake.  I  suppose  I  won't  mind  so  much  when  I'm  a  little  older 
in  the  work  and  don't  have  a  fit  of  the  ague  every  time  any  one 
tries  to  open  an  argument  with  me."  Both  men  laughed  as 
they  gathered  up  their  mail  from  the  bench. 


GOD'S  WAY  1043 

"You'll  get  over  that.  We  all  had  those  days,"  the  older 
man  assured  him  as  they  started  toward  their  room. 

"I  suppose  we  may  as  well  start  in  the  morning,"  said  Elder 
Simpson.  "We  can  get  to  Courtland  in  two  days,  I  think.  There 
are  a  few  investigators  in  the  town,  besides  this  man  Beckett 
that  the  President  mentions,  who  has  already  been  baptized. 
We'll  wait  until  we  get  there  to  arrange  for  a  meeting." 

A  couple  of  days  later  the  two  men  reached  Courtland  and 
found  their  way  to  the  home  of  Mr.  Beckett.  , 

"I'm  mighty  glad  to  see  you,"  Beckett  greeted  them  warmly. 
"It's  time  some  of  you  elders  came.  There  has  been  a  man 
named  N —  through  here  telling  all  sorts  of  scandalous  things 
about  the  'Mormons.'  John  Dillon's  folks  and  the  Mercer  sisters 
and  Mrs.  Adamson  were  all  about  ready  to  be  baptized,  but  they 
are  wondering  now  whether  to  be  or  not.  Shall  I  invite  them 
over  this  evening  and  let  you  straighten  their  questions  out?" 

"Certainly,"  Elder  Simpson  replied.  "I  believe  we  would 
better  hold  a  few  cottage  meetings  before  we  try  to  do  anything 
in  a  public  way." 

Young  Henry  Beckett  was  sent  to  notify  the  investigators 
of  the  meeting.    When  he  returned  he  seemed  somewhat  excited. 

"Pa,  Champ  Connell  was  over  to  Dillion's  and  Nick  Dennis 
from  out  at  the  Cross  Roads  and  they  said  that  they  were  coming 
to  the  meeting,  too." 

"Why,  that  is  all  right,  my  boy,"  Elder  Simpson  assured  him. 
"We  are  glad  to  have  any  who  wish  to  come." 

"But  they  are  the  two  worst  toughs  in  Courtland,"  asserted 
the  lad. 

After  supper  the  elders  and  the  Beckett  family  gathered  in 
the  living  room.  Soon  the  Mercer  Sisters  with  a  couple  of 
friends  arrived,  and  a  little  later  Mrs.  Adamson  and  her  daugh- 
ter-in-law came;  and  finally  the  Dillion  family  and  the  two  self- 
invited  guests. 

A  hymn  was  selected  and  sung.  Elder  Crane  opened  the 
meeting  by  prayer.  Then  after  another  hymn,  Elder  Simpson 
arose  and  spoke  at  some  length  on  the  first  principles  of  the 
Gospel.     When  he  had  finished  he  said, 

"Now,  if  there  are  any  questions  we  will  be  pleased  to  hear 
them  and  answer  them  if  possible." 

Before  anyone  else  had  a  chance  to  speak  Champ  Connell 
who  was  sitting  near  the  door,  got  clumsily  to  his  feet. 

"Yer  sermon  sounded  purty  fair,  Mr.  'Mormon,'  but  I  bet 
ve  ain't  got  Scripture  fer  all  of  it.  Ye  must  a  got  some  o'  that 
dope  out  o'  ole  Joe  Smith's  gold  Bible.  I  jist  wish  ye'd  let  Rev. 
Jackson  ask  ye  a  few  questions,  an'  I'd  like  t'  hear  ye  explain 
a  few  o'  the  things  a  Mr.  N —  told  us  about  ye  last  week.     So 


1044  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

if  ye  ain't  afraid,  we'd  like  to  see  ye  show  yerselves  over  in  the 
Baptist  Church  tomorrow  night." 

"Do  I  understand  this  to  be  an  invitation  to  a  meeting?" 
Elder  Simpson  asked. 

"It  is." 

"Very  well,  we  shall  be  glad  to  come,  and  we  thank  you  for 
the  opportunity."  At  this  point,  Connell  and  his  companion 
withdrew  and  the  elders  spent  a  couple  of  hours  in  conversation 
with  their  friends. 

The  next  day  was  spent  by  the  elders  in  visiting  and  letter 
writing.  Late  in  the  afternoon  Mr.  Beckett  and  his  son  came 
home  very  much  excited.     They  hurried  at  once  to  their  guests. 

"That  meeting  you  were  invited  to  tonight  was  a  fake,"  Mr. 
Beckett  began.  "Henry,  here,  overheard  Champ  and  Nick  and  a 
gang  of  their  friends  planning  to  tar  and  feather  you.  Henry 
tell  us  just  what  you  did  hear." 

"Us  fellers  was  playing  'Run  Sheep'  and  I  hid  under  some 
logs  down  behind  the  old  saw-mill.  Pretty  soon  Champ  and  his 
gang  came  around  there  and  sat  on  the  logs  right  over  me.  They 
were  drinking  and  swearing  and  laughing  over  the  good  time 
they  are  going  to  have  tonight.  I  found  out  there  wasn't  to  be 
any  meeting  at  all.  That  was  just  a  trap  to  catch  you  in,  then 
they  are  going  to  take  you  to  the  woods  and  tar  and  feather  yoii 
and  make  you  perform  for  them.  If  you  don't  come  to  the 
meeting  they  are  coming  here  and  drag  you  out."  Elder  Crane 
was  plainly  agitated  and  even  Elder  Simpson  was  grave. 

"Surely  there  is  no  -danger  of  a  barbarous  thing  like  that 
being  carried  out  in  a  civilized  community,"  he  said  seriously. 

"I  don't  know,  Elder  Simpson,"  their  host  replied.  "Of 
course,  you  must  not  judge  the  whole  town  by  this  lawless  gang, 
but  as  for  them,  there  is  no  limit  to  which  they  will  not  go  when 
they  are  full  of  whisky.  It  is  strange  I  didn't  wonder  at  it  last 
night  when  they  gave  the  invitation  for  Rev.  Jackson,  so  to  speak. 
Champ  hasn't  been  inside  of  a  church  since  he  was  a  baby  and 
I  guess  Nick  hasn't  been  many  times  since  he  'hoodooed'  pretty 
little  Millie  Greene  into  marrying  him.  I  called  Rev.  Jackson 
up  after  Henry  told  me  what  he  had  heard,  and  he  knew  nothing 
of  a  meeting.  It  will  be  positively  dangerous  for  you  to  stay  in 
town  tonight." 

"It  seems  cowardly  to  run  away,"  Elder  Simpson  said  after 
a  thoughtful  pause.  "But  I  suppose  it  is  worse  than  useless  to 
stay.  We  would  only  be  rieking  Brother  Beckett's  family  as  well. 
I  was  just  thinking,  Elder  Crane,  we  might  go  out  and  stop  at 
some  of  those  farms  we  passed  coming  in,  then  we  can  do  some 
trading  in  the  morning  and  take    the     Cross    Roads     over     to 


GOD'S  WAY  1045 

Spencer,  and  probably  come  back  here  in  a  week  or  so  and  do 
the  work  we  had  hoped  to  accomplish  now." 

And  so,  as  twilight  settled  over  Courtland,  the  elders  took 
their  heavy  grips  and  started  out  upon  the  road. 

"This  is  the  discouraging  part  of  missionary  work,  Elder 
Simpson,"  complained  the  younger  man.  "To  think  of  having 
the  good  we  ought  to  have  accomplished  there  in  Courtland, 
defeated  by  a  couple  of  'drunks.'  "  The  two  were  making  their 
way  against  a  fierce  storm  which  had  been  brewing  all  day  and 
had  now  arrived  with  February  fury. 

"We  cannot  be  the  judges,  Elder  Crane,"  the  older  man 
remonstrated.  God's  ways  are  not  always  ours,  you  know.  Per- 
haps even  this  defeat  may  be  turned  into  a  victory;  who  knows?" 

"Well,  it  doesn't  look  very  probable  out  in  a  night  like  this." 

Before  long  it  was  pitchy  dark.  Their  clothes  and  shoes 
were  wet  and  cold  and  the  wind  blew  the  icy  sleet  into  their 
faces.  When  the  light  of  the  first  farmhouse  gleamed  before 
them,  they  turned  hopefully  into  the  lane  and  knocked  at  the 
door.  A  rheumatic  old  man  hobbled  across  the  floor  and  opened 
it  with  a  mumbled  curse. 

"Good  evening,  friend,"  Elder  Simpson  said  pleasantly. 
"Could  you  take  in  a  couple  of  travelers  for  the  night?" 

"No,  I  couldn't,"  came  the  ill-natured  reply.  "I  ain't  able 
t'  take  care  o'  myself  an'  all  the  folks  is  gone  t'  town,"  and  the 
door  was  shut  unceremoniously  in  their  faces.  Patiently  the 
two  men  turned  back  to  the  road  and  resumed  their  unpleasant 
journey.  In  a  half  hour  they  saw  another  light  twinkling  ahead 
of  them.  Again  they  approached  the  door  and  knocked.  This 
time  a  pleasant-faced  woman  with  a  babe  in  her  arms  came  to 
the  door. 

"I  would  like  to  let  you  stay,"  she  told  them  with  sincere 
regret  as  she  looked  at  their  wet  clothing,  then  out  into  the 
stormy  night,  "but  my  husband  is  away  and  I  couldn't  very  well 
take  you  in.  I  believe  the  Carters  who  live  a  few  miles  this 
side  of  the  Cross  Roads  take  travelers."  They  appreciated  her 
position  and  thanked  her  for  her  kindness  of  heart  as  once  more 
they  turned  back  to  tramp  through  the  mud  and  slush. 

When  they  reached  the  Carter  farm,  they  found  it  deserted. 
The  storm  was  still  raging  fiercely. 

"Shall  we  try  to  find  shelter  some  place  about  the  barn?" 
asked  Elder  Simpson,  feeling  great  sympathy  for  his  young 
companion  who  had  not  yet  grown  accustomed  to  the  hardships 
of  the  mission  field. 

"No!"  replied  the  young  man  stoically.  "I'd  rather  walk  all 
night  than  resort  to  the  methods  of  a  common  tramp,"  and  so 
once  more  they  plunged  into  the  darkness  ahead  of  them. 


1046  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

They  walked  on  for  a  couple  of  long,  painful  hours,  before 
the  next  place  was  reached.  Scarcely  daring  to  hope  for  any- 
thing but  further  disappointment,  they  approached  the  light 
that  glimmered  in  the  gloom  beyond. 

In  answer  to  their  knock  the  door  was  thrown  open  instantly 
and  much  to  their  surprise,  a  white-faced  woman  with  wide, 
frightened  eyes  cried  out, 

"Oh,  thank  God!  Thank  God!  I  have  been  praying  that 
someone  would  come!  I'm  alone  and — my  baby — is  dying!" 
She  rushed  from  the  door  back  to  the  cradle  which  stood  by  the 
open  fireplace,  where  now  she  knelt,  sobbing  hysterically. 

Elder  Simpson  removed  his  dripping  coat  and  approached 
the  cradle.  A  little  child  of  about  two  years  lay  gasping  for 
breath.  One  look  told  the  man  that  the  mother's  fears  were 
well  founded.  The  little  one  was  choking  with  croup.  There 
was  no  time  for  formalities.     He  turned  to  his  companion. 

"Get  the  bottle  of  oil  from  my  grip,  Elder  Crane."  Then  to 
the  mother:  "We  are  ministers  of  the  gospel,  madam,  and 
through  the  power  of  God,  and  the  priesthood  which  we  hold, 
the  sick  are  often  healed.  Will  you  allow  us  to  anoint  and 
bless  your  baby?" 

"Yes!  yes!  Do  it  quickly!"  The  poor  woman  was  almost 
frantic  with  anxiety  and  grief. 

Elder  Simpson  poured  some  oil  into  a  spoon  and  asked 
Elder  Crane  to  administer  it  to  the  child. 

This  he  did  and  afterwards  anointed  the  little  head. 

Elder  Simpson  was  about  to  seal  the  anointing  when  there 
was  a  sound  at  the  door.  But  the  mother  as  well  as  the  elders 
were  so  engrossed  with  the  sick  baby  that  none  of  them  heard  it. 
A  big,  dark  man,  with  a  bloated  dissipated  face,  had  entered 
and  stood  glowering  at  the  group  before  the  fire.  He  clenched 
his  fists  and  was  about  to  step  forward  when  Elder  Simpson's 
deep  voice  arose  in  earnest  prayer. 

The  man  stopped.  He  could  see  the  death-like  face  of  his 
child,  and  also  hear  its  labored  gasps  for  breath.  A  peculiar 
change  came  into  his  face.  The  hated  stranger  was  praying  for 
his  baby.  The  baby  he  had  left  sick,  alone  with  its  pleading 
mother  to — .   * 

The  fierceness  left  the  dull  face  and  something  like  re- 
morse stirred  in  the  man's  soul.  As  the  wonderful  blessing  up- 
on the  sick  child  continued,  even  the  blear-eyed  father  could  see 
a  change.  The  breathing  became  more  and  more  natural.  The 
drawn  lines  of  the  suffering  face  relaxed.  The  prayer  had 
scarcely  ended  when  the  baby's  eyes  opened  and  the  little  voice 
cried,  "Mama." 

The  mother  stared  at  the  miracle  which  had  been  wrought 


GOD'S  WAY 


1047 


before  her  eyes,  then  she  clasped  the  little  one  to  her,  murmur- 
ing, "My  baby!  My  baby!"  while  tears  of  glad  thanksgiving 
rained  down  her  cheeks. 

A  deep  sob  from  the  door  filled  the  room.  The  group  at 
the  fire  looked  around. 

"O,  Nick,  these  men  have  saved  our  baby's  life!"  the  woman 
cried  and  the  elders  were  looking  into  the  astonished  face  of 
Nick  Dennis.  He  stumbled  toward  them  and  threw  himself  upon 
his  knees  beside  the  woman  and  the  child.  Heavy  sobs  shook 
his  big  frame. 

Presently  he  rose  to  his  feet  and  faced  the  elders. 
The  dull  eyes  had  cleared  and  the  face  showed  only  the 
workings  of  sincere  remorse  and  deepest  gratitude.  He  held  out 
a  trembling  hand  to  each  guest. 

"Can  you  forgive  a  cowardly  sinner  and  tell  me  how  you 
can  do — a  miracle  like  this?"  he  asked  brokenly. 

Elder  Simpson  grasped  the  rough  hand  warmly  as  he  said, 
"It   was   not   we   who    did   it,   my   friend,   but    our   Father   in 
Heaven." 
Provo,  Utah 


"MILKING  UP,"  AND  RESTING  ON  RETURN  TRIP 

M.  I.  A.  Scouts,  Troop  35,  Emigration  ward,  in  charge  of  Scoutmaster 
T.  S.  Green,  returning  from  night  hike,  Decoration  Day,  May  30. 


The  Meaning  of  Education 


By  Dr.  E.  G.  Peterson,  President,  Utah  Agricultural  College 


XI — Unselfishness 

The  secret  of  world  peace  is  personal.  We  pray  for  peace 
but  we  do  not,  in  full,  deserve  it  and  if  we  think  seriously  we 
know  we  do  not  deserve  it.  As  long  as  we  embody  jealousy 
and  hate,  so  long  as  we  deny  in  act  if  not  in  word  Christ's 
simple  doctrine  of  brotherly  love,  we  cannot  have  complete 
peace.  France  is  ennobled  by  the  very  sacrifice  she  has  made; 
Belgium  is  exalted.  These  peoples  have  paid  the  full  price 
and  their  reward  will  be  as  sure  as  their  suffering.  France 
and  Belguim  today  are  cleansed.  It  is  said  that  thousands  of 
the  soldiers  in  the  trenches  pray  to  God  with  a  deep  meaning 
and  a  comradeship  that  is  one  of  the  glories  of  the  war.  Such 
men  have  rendered  themselves,  in  a  measure,  holy.  Were  all 
the  world  such,  peace  would  be  automatic.  War  is  an  expres- 
sion of  aggregate  emotion,  the  accumulated  wrath  of  millions, 
the  jealousy  of  a  whole  population,  the  hate  of  a  nation.  The 
beginnings  of  war  are  in  ourselves. 

The  world  advances  with  irresistible  logic  and  in  perfect 
harmony.  As  we  conquer  in  part  our  own  personal  delin- 
quencies the  world  steps  forward  a  bit  in  achievement  looking 
toward  the  realization  of  the  ideals  which  live  in  the  hearts  of 
most  of  us.  If  every  man  would  kill  the  idealism  within  him 
the  world  would  stop  going  forward.  Invention  would  cease, 
discovery  would  end,  poetry  would  not  be  written,  music  could 
not  be  written  or  sung,  educational  institutions  would  decay 
and  man  would  lapse  into  the  brute.  Only  in  so  far  as  we 
cherish  idealism  and  crush  selfishness  does  invention  and  dis- 
covery thrive,  educational  institutions  flourish,  poetry,  phil- 
osophy and  music  ripen  among  us.  And  only  in  so  far  as  we 
crush  selfishness  does  deep  religious  devotion,  which  encom- 
passes all,  take  hold  of  us. 

Brigham  Young  is  reported  to  have  once  said,  "I  will  live 
my  religion  and  be  saved,  if  every  other  man  goes  to  hell." 
This  is  the  attitude  of  consummate  devotion  to  ideals,  to  un- 
selfishness, if  you  will  analyze  it  thoroughly;  the  unbending 
determination  of  a  strong  man  to  conquer  himself.  Brigham 
Young,  of  course,  wished  all  men  to  be  saved  but  he  realized 
that  no  man  could  be  saved  by  following  the  crowd.     Only  by 


THE  MEANING  OF  EDUCATION  1049 

burdening  himself  with  the  responsibility  of  his  own  acts  and 
fighting  it  out  to  the  end  could  his  own  soul  be  exalted.  The 
statement  might  well  have  been  uttered  by  Cromwell  or  CarlyLe. 

One  day  Brigham  Young,  so  it  is  said,  came  into  alter- 
cation, as  he  passed  from  his  office  to  his  home,  with  a  pugna- 
cious brother.  The  argument  became  irritating  to  President 
Young.  His  emotion  was  aroused  and  his  wrath,  as  powerful 
as  any  other  phase  of  his  wonderful  strength,  craved  satisfac- 
tion. He  undoubtedly  had  the  temptation  to  crush  the  offender. 
Instead,  he  controlled  his  emotion  and  walked  with  all  pos- 
sible composure  to  his  home.  A  member  of  his  household  saw 
him  enter,  his  face  flushed,  and  hurry  to  his  room  where  he 
locked  himself  in.  This  member  of  the  household  became 
somewhat  anxious  as  the  minutes  passed.  Later  she  went  to 
the  door  to  investigate  and  she  heard  from  inside  these  startling 
words,  "Down  on  your  knees,  Brigham,  down  on  your  knees!" 

A  strong  man  conquering  himself! 

This  is  the  story  of  every  life  of  achievement,  of  every 
worth-while  thing  in  the  world.  This  will  be  the  story  of  world 
peace.  The  same  key  that  unlocked  the  western  desert  will 
unlock  the  door  to  universal  peace.  The  desert  refused  to  re- 
spond when  men  came  only  for  profit  and  pelf.  Those  who 
sought  only  for  gold  or  fur  saw  nothing  in  the  land  but  its  bar- 
renness. Homes  and  a  civilization  were  built  only  when  men 
came  to  sacrifice. 

A  degree  of  unselfishness  gave  to  the  world  a  knowledge  of 
radium  and  the  gasoline  engine  and  "Lines  to  a  Water  Fowl." 
Unselfishness  gave  us  the  art  of  irrigation  in  America,  and  will 
conquer  for  us  the  insects  that  infest  our  crops  and  the  dis- 
eases that  prey  upon  us.  France  gave  us  our  knowledge  of 
radium  because  the  French  gave  of  their  means  unselfishly 
that  Madame  Currie  might  seek  to  discover  the  laws  of  nature. 
Had  the  attitude  of  France  been  one  which  said,  "I  will  give 
nothing  to  others,"  the  discovery  of  truth  would  have  been 
delayed  or  prevented.  We  conquer  nature  only  as  we  give  un* 
to  others.  The  people  of  our  own  nation  give  of  their  means 
that  not  only  their  own  but  their  neighbors'  children  may  be 
educated  and  that  scientists  may  discover  truth  that  will  be  a 
blessing  to  all.  It  is  the  idealism,  the  unselfishness,  of  the 
thousands  of  quiet  men  who  till  our  fields  and  husband  our 
flocks  and  herds  as  well  as  those  who  dwell  in  shops  and  offices 
that  make  possible  free  education  which  will  be  the  salvation 
of  the  race.  No  poet  ever  wrote  while  thinking  of  self.  There 
is  a  great  desert  yet  to  be  reclaimed  of  sand  and  drouth.  Only 
devotion  to  truth  can  conquer  it  and  adjust  it  to  the  needs  of 


1050  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

man.     All  the  unsolved  problems  of  the  race  wait  for  solution 
until  we  conquer  selfishness. 

We  are  building  a  great  rural  civilization  in  America.  Many 
of  the  obstacles  have  been  removed,  and  life  on  the  farm  is 
working  toward  that  condition  of  stability  for  which  we  all 
hope.  Rural  life  in  America  pauses  now  in  its  development 
for  the  farmers  to  conquer  themselves.  Are  they  sufficiently 
unselfish  to  cooperate.  If  not,  all  the  machinery  of  govern- 
men  and  education  will  help  only  to  a  limited  extent.  If  they 
are,  rural  life  in  America  will  blossom  into  a  very  rich  social 
thing.  Cooperation  means  organized  unselfishness.  California 
has  organized  a  so-called  Cooperative  Fruit  Grower's  Exchange. 
It  is,  however,  only  a  business  cooperation.  It  entails  no  feel- 
ing of  sacrifice.  It  is  organized  selfishness  in  a  degree;  al- 
though, we  recognize  it  as  the  best  of  its  kind  in  existence,  and  we 
hear  nothing  but  admiration  for  its  founders.  Real  cooperation 
involves  moral  devotion  to  the  principles  involved.  Merely 
organizing  to  protect  one's  interests  or  to  fight  one's  commercial 
enemies  is  not  cooperation.  We  will  never  truly  cooperate 
until  we  believe  that  the  greatest  among  us  are  the  servants  of 
all. 

The  world  is  entitled  only  to  the  degree  of  peace  and  pros- 
perity it  does  enjoy.  As  we  enrich  our  souls  we  will  endow  and 
support  things  that  are  good.  From  such  endowment  will  flow 
blessing  upon  blessing,  until  the  world  revels  in  plenty ;  but  the 
heavy  demand  will  continue  for  sacrifice  and  devotion.  The 
world  will  be  conquered  in  every  detail  from  the  apple  worm  to 
the  fierce  passion  of  nations  for  war,  only  as  in  the  hearts  of  all 
of  us  we  drive  out  greed  and  envy  and  hate  and  replace  these 
with  a  strong  brotherly  love. 
Logan,  Utah. 


Service  to  Country 


J.  Bryan  Barton,  writing  from  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  July  22, 
who  is  with  the  United  States  Shipping  Board  Emergency  Fleet  Corpora- 
tion, in  the  service  of  our  country,  writes:  "Undoubtedly  you  feel  that  the 
service  rendered  by  our  boys  to  our  country  just  now  is  equally  as  im- 
portant as  the  missionary  work  which  is  directed  more  particularly  for  the 
spiritual  welfare  of  men.  The  gospel  anticipates  religious  and  political  lib- 
erty, and  teaches  that  it  must  be  maintained  if  needs  be  by  force.  For 
many  years  I  have  anticipated  the  time  when  the  fate  of  the  world  should 
hang  in  the  balance,  and  when  the  United  States  should  come  to  the  rescue 
and  save  mankind  from  oppression.  We  have  always  been  told  that  our 
boys  should  take  a  part  in  that.  We  realize  now  that  prophecy.  I  am  thank- 
ful that  I  can  take  a  small  part  in  such  a  tremendous  undertaking  as  Uncle 
Sam  has  begun.  We  know  that  successes  will  come,  followed,  perhaps,  by 
short  periods  of  reversals.  We  also  know  what  the  ultimate  result  will  be 
for  Kaiser  Bill  and  his  court." 


Some  Fundamentals  of  Health  Conser- 
vation 


By  J.  E.  Greaves,  Ph.  D.  Prof,  of  Bacteriology  and  Physiological  Chemistry, 
Utah  Agricultural  College 


A  truism  well  recognized  by  medical  men  is  that  the  sol- 
dier has  much  more  to  fear  from  the  ravages  of  disease  than 
the  fire  of  the  enemy.  During  the  South  African  War  the  British 
army  lost  twice  as  many  men  from  preventable  diseases,  chiefly 
tvphoid  fever,  as  died  from  wounds  received  in  battle.  In  the 
Spanish-American  War  there  was  only  one  death  from  battle 
to  12.5  deaths  from  disease.  In  the  Russo-Japanese  war,  on  the 
other  hand,  the  number  of  deaths  from  disease  was  only  one- 
half  the  number  of  killed.  In  the  present  war  the  deaths  from 
communicable  diseases  is  very  low  when  we  consider  the  number 
of  men  engaged.  In  short,  the  stage  had  been  reached  in  the 
armies  of  the  world,  prior  to  the  war,  when  the  death  rate 
within  the  army  was  far  less  than  it  was  in  the  civilian  life  with 
the  same  class  of  individuals. 

For  four  centuries  the  narrow  Isthmus  of  Panama  was  re- 
garded as  the  white  man's  grave.  Ferdinand  de  Lesseps,  who 
undertook  the  construction  of  a  canal  across  the  Isthmus,  was 
forced  to  abandon  it.  His  men  died  like  flies.  It  has  been 
stated  that  before  the  work  was  finally  abandoned,  a  human 
life  had  been  sacrificed  for  every  cubic  yard  of  earth  excavated. 
Eighteen  per  cent  of  all  the  men  employed  had  died  and  many 
more  were  rendered  helpless.  Twenty  years  later  a  canal  was 
constructed  and  that  with  a  mortality  of  slightly  less  than  sixteen 
per  thousand,  while  today  the  mortality  is  less  in  the  canal 
zone  than  in  many  of  our  large  cities. 

Since  1882  tuberculosis  has  decreased  forty-nine  per  cent 
and  typhoid  fever  thirty-nine  per  cent.  During  this  same  period 
the  death  rate  within  the  registration  area  of  the  United  States 
has  decreased  from  19.6  to  15.0  per  thousand.  In  short,  the 
average  life  of  man  has  been  lengthened  ten  years.  This  is  due 
mainly  to  the  control  of  the  communicable  diseases,  for  during 
this  period  there  has  been  a  large  increase  in  deaths  from  kid- 
ney disease,  heart  disease,  and  apoplexy.  Upon  what  funda- 
mentals is  this  science  founded  which  has  worked  such  won- 

dcrs 

The  first  marked  advance  was  made  when  it  became  estab- 
lished that  microorganisms  are  the  descendants  of  other  similar 


1052  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

organisms,  and  that  all  communicable  diseases  are  due  to  minute 
plants  and  animals.  It  was  only  three  hundred  years  ago  that 
the  famous  physicist  and  chemist,  Von  Helmont,  stated  that  mice 
can  be  spontaneously  generated  by  merely  placing  some  dirty 
rags  in  a  receptacle  together  with  a  few  grains  of  wheat  or  a 
piece  of  cheese.  This  same  philosopher's  method  of  engend- 
ering scorpions  appears  to  us  very  amusing.  "Scoop  out  a  hole  in 
a  brick.  Put  in  some  sweet  basil.  Lay  a  second  brick  upon  the 
first  so  that  the  hole  may  be  perfectly  covered.  Expose  the  two 
bricks  to  the  sun,  and  at  the  end  of  a  few  days  the  smell  of  the 
sweet  basil,  acting  as  a  ferment,  will  change  the  herb  into  a  real 
scorpion." 

These  false  notions  were  overthrown  by  the  Italian  poet 
and  physician,  Redi,  who  clearly  demonstrated  that  larvae  were 
not  spontaneously  generated  in  decomposing  meat.  He  simply 
took  the  precaution  of  placing  the  meat  in  a  bottle  the  mouth 
of  which  was  covered  with  gauze.  Flies  attracted  by  the  meat 
deposited  their  eggs  on  the  gauze,  but  no  worms  were  developed 
in  the  meat. 

When,  however,  the  microscope  became  sufficiently  per- 
fected it  was  found  that  all  substances,  especially  those  decay- 
ing, were  filled  with  various  forms  of  life.  These  it  was  thought 
had  developed  from  the  dead  inanimate  matter  in  which  they 
were  found.  Needham  took  the  decaying  organic  matter  en- 
closed in  vessels  which  he  placed  upon  hot  ashes  to  destroy  any 
existing  life.  Yet  later  he  found  developing  in  these  fluids 
microorganisms.  Spallanzani  repeated  the  work,  Using  hermet- 
ically sealed  flasks  which  he  sterilized  bv  heating  for  one  hour. 
There  were  no  organisms  developed  in  this. 

But  Needham  replied  that  the  boiling  had  so  altered  the 
character  of  the  material  that  it  was  unable  to  generate  life. 
This  Spallanzani  answered  by  cracking  one  of  the  flasks  so  air 
could  enter.  Decay  soon  set  in.  Even  this  was  not  sufficient  to 
overthrow  a  popular  belief,  for  the  claim  was  made  that  the 
air  was  excluded  and  this  they  considered  as  essential  to  the 
normal  development  of  these  forms  of  life.  This  objection 
was  answered  by  the  work  of  many  an  ingenious  worker.  Some 
passed  the  air  through  tubes  containing  acid,  others  through 
redhot  tubes  and  then  into  the  infusion.  But  the  final  proof 
came  when  it  was  shown  that  it  was  sufficient  to  place  cotton 
plugs  in  the  bottles,  so  that,  as  the  air  passes  in  the  minute 
organisms  are  held  back  by  the  cotton  and  the  media  does  not 
change.  This,  together  with  the  work  of  Pasteur  on  fermen- 
tation and  Tyndall  on  the  floating  matter  of  the  air,  proved 
conclusively  that  bacteria  are  the  descendants  of  other  similar 
organisms 


FUNDAMENTALS  OF  HEALTH  CONSERVATION  1053 

This  principle,  although  undertaken  for  purely  theoret- 
ical reasons,  is  the  first  fundamental  upon  which  is  construct- 
ed the  modern  science  of  fermentation.  Exclude  the  specific 
microorganism  of  the  disease  and  there  can  be  no  communicable 
disease.  And  it  has  been  firmly  established  that  a  great  major- 
ity of  diseases  which  are  exacting  such  a  toll  of  human  life  are 
due  to  microorganisms. 

Our  second  milestone  on  the  path  of  progress  was  marked 
by  the  discovery  that  the  great  majority  of  microorganisms 
which  cause  disease  in  man  multiply  only  in  the  body  of  man  or 
the  lower  animals. 

The  evidence  is  conclusive  that  the  causative  agents  of  tuber- 
culosis, pneumonia,  influenza,  cerebro-spinal  meningitis,  scar- 
let fever,  typhus  fever,  smallpox,  whooping  cough,  gonorrhea, 
syphilis,  malaria,  yellow  fever,  and  sleeping  sickness  multiply 
only  in  the  body  of  animals  and  the  number  which  reaches  the 
body  of  one  animal  are  only  those  which  leave  the  body  of 
another  animal. 

Diphtheria  which  for  so  long  has  been  considered  a  filth 
disease,  that  is,  its  germs  were  supposed  to  have  a  habitat  out- 
oide  of  the  body  in  various  forms  of  dirt,  is  now  known  to  be  a 
purely  contagious  disease.  The  organism  is  more  resistant  than 
are  some  disease-producers,  but  there  is  no  evidence  that  it  is 
propagated  outside  the  body  except  occasionally  in  milk. 

While  it  is  well  establised  that  water  often  gives  rise  to 
typhoid  fever,  it  is  also  well  established  that  the  typhoid 
rapidly  disappears  from  water  and  probably  never  lives  in  water 
longer  than  fifteen  or  twenty  days.  And  there  is  no  evidence 
that  the  germ  ever  multiplies  in  the  water.  Hence,  water  re- 
quires a  constant  source  of  new  infection  from  the  body  of  a 
human  individual  to  be  at  all  dangerous;  for  it  is  evident  that 
while  the  typhoid  organism  may  live  for  sometime  in  the  soil 
there  is  no  evidence  that  it  can  multiply  in  soil  So  this  organism 
has  its  origin  only  in  man  or  some  special  food  which  has  re- 
cently been  infected  by  man,  and  the  same  principles  hold  for 
cholera,  plague,  and  dysentery.  It  is  possible  that  the  anthrax 
tetanus  and  pus-forming  bacteria  may  develop  in  the  soil  or 
decaying  material,  but  there  is  no  evidence  that  they  commonly 
do.  It  is  well  known  that  disease-producing  organisms  find  soil. 
water  and  decaying  material  unfavorable  for  their  continued 
existence,  as  is  seen  from  the  fact  that  typhoid  organisms  will 
live  longer  in  sterile,  distilled  water  than  they  will  in  normal 
well  water. 

The  establishment  of  the  principle  that  the  majority  of  all 
diseases  are  spread  by  direct  contact  or  by  insects,  put  a  new  and 
effective  weapon  in  the  hands  of  the  sanitary  worker.     From 


1054  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

time  immemorial  vapors  and  emanations,  gaseous  or  otherwise, 
have  been  considered  to  be  frequent  causes  of  diseases.  But  with 
the  growth  of  the  subject  of  bacteriology  it  was  found  that  bac- 
teria were  the  real  cause  of  disease.  The  favorite  explanation  of 
the  transmission  of  disease  was  that  they  were  conveyed  in  the 
air.  But  experience  soon  taught  that  even  smallpox  or  measles 
could  be  housed  in  the  same  hospital  with  other  patients  with- 
out infection,  provided  care  be  taken  to  prevent  the  carrying  of 
the  infection  of  one  to  the  other  by  the  attendants.  Moreover,' 
it  was  even  found  that  the  highly  communicable  diseases  could 
be  kept  in  the  same  ward  with  other  patients,  and  even  scarlet 
fever  is  no  longer  considered  as  an  aerial-transmitted  disease. 
Moreover,  the  scales  which  may  at  times  be  carried  in  the  air 
have  not  the  power  of  producing  the  disease. 

If  this  is  the  case,  what  is  the  origin  of  those  cases  which 
seem  to  occur  spontaneously?  This  has  been  answered  by  the 
discovery  of  carriers  and  mild  cases.  Some  individuals,  although 
apparently  healthy,  may  be  harboring  within  their  mouths  the 
disease  germ  and  they  can  safely  make  the  journey  from  the  lips 
of  one  to  the  lips  of  another  on  the  common  drinking  cup.  The 
fingers  are  continually  finding  way  to  the  mouth,  and  if  the 
saliva  were  indigo,  what  a  blue  world  it  would  be  indeed!  For 
"the  cook  spreads  his  saliva  on  the  muffins  and  rolls;  the  wait- 
ress infects  the  glasses  and  spoons;  the  moistened  fingers  of  the 
peddler  arranges  his  fruit;  the  thumb  of  the  milk  man  is  in  his 
measure;  the  reader  moistens  the  pages  of  his  book;  the  con- 
ductor his  transfer  tickets;  the  "lady"  the  fingers  of  her  gloves. 
Everyone  is  busily  engaged  in  this  distribution  of  saliva,  so  that 
at  the  end  of  each  day  we  find  this  secretion  freely  distributed  on 
the  doors,  window  sills,  furniture,  and  playthings  in  tin  home, 
the  straps  of  the  trolley  cars,  the  rails,  counter  and  desks  of 
shops,  and  public  buildings,  and  indeed  upon  everything  that 
the  hands  of  man  touch,  and  in  many  cases,  with  it,  the  germs 
of  many  of  our  diseases.  If  the  next  comer  has  not  learned  that 
the  hands  are  to  be  kept  from  the  mouth,  he  can  easily  transfer 
to  his  mouth  disease  germs,  and,  if  perchance,  they  find  suitable 
soil,  the  individual  soon  finds  himself  suffering  from  a  disease. 
It  may  be  a  mild  attack  of  la  grippe  or  a  fatal  attack  of  tuber- 
culosis. 

Furthermore,  individuals  may  have  such  mild  attacks  of  a 
disease  that  they  never  realize  that  thev  are  suffering  with  a 
disease,  hence  continue  to  prepare  food  or  produce  milk  for 
others.    This  they  infect,  which  in  turn  infects  the  consumer. 

Then  there  are  the  insects  which  often  act  the  part  of  the 
go-between  from  the  sick  to  the  well,  the  fly  in  typhoid,  the 
mosquito  in  malaria,  the  louse  in  typhus  fever,  and  the  flea  in 


FUNDAMENTALS  OF  HEALTH  CONSERVATION  1055 

plague.  So,  sanitary  workers  are  continually  giving  more  atten- 
tion to  contact  infection,  including  fingers,  food,  and  insects, 
and  with  it  there  is  being  noted  a  decline  in  the  communicable 
diseases. 

For  a  long  time  it  has  been  the  conception  of  layman  and 
physician  alike  that  general  good  health  protects  against  in- 
fection, but  it  is  fast  becoming  firmly  established  that  the 
"physically  fit"  and  robust  at  times  fall  prey  to  typhoid  fever, 
smallpox,  and  probably  all  the  other  infectious  diseases  as  well 
as  does  the  weakling,  and  with  this  knowledge  is  coming  infor- 
mation that  it  is  first  and  best  to  keep  them  out  of  the  body;  and 
second,  to  have  within  the  body  the  specific  antidote  for  each 
particular  germ. 

When  Pasteur  announced  that  he  had  found  a  prevention 
for  anthrax  he  was  looked  upon  with  derision;  even  the  leaders 
in  scientific  thought  would  not  believe,  artd  the  president  of  an 
agricultural  society  suggested  that  it  be  submitted  to  a  decisive 
public  test  and  offered  to  furnish  fifty  sheep,  half  of  which 
should  be  protected  by  Pasteur.  Later  they  were  all  to  be  in- 
fected by  the  disease-producing  organisms  and  if  the  material 
be  a  success  the  protected  ones  were  to  remain  healthy,  the  un- 
protected ones  to  die  of  the  disease.  Pasteur  accepted  the  chal- 
lenge and  suggested  that  for  two  of  the  sheep  there  be  substi- 
tuted two  goats,  and  that  there  be  added  to  the  herd  ten  cows. 
The  sheep,  cows,  and  goats  were  all  turned  over  to  Pasteur  and 
treated  as  was  the  agreement.  The  results  of  the  test,  as  de- 
scribed by  one  writer,  are:  "June  second,  at  the  appointed  hour 
of  rendezvous,  a  vast  congregation,  composed  of  veterinary  sur- 
geons, newspaper  correspondents,  and  farmers  from  far  and 
near,  gathered  to  witness  the  closing  scene  of  this  scientific  tour- 
ney. What  they  saw  was  one  of  the  most  dramatic  scenes  in 
the  history  of  peaceful  science,  a  scene  which  Pasteur  declared 
afterwards  amazed  the  assembly.  Scattered  about  the  enclosure, 
dead,  dying,  or  manifestly  sick  unto  death,  lay  the  unprotected 
animals,  one  and  all,  while  each  and  every  protected  animal 
stalked  unconcernedly  about  with  every  appearance  of  perfect 
health.  Twenty  of  the  sheep  and  one  goat  were  already  dead; 
two  other  sheep  expired  under  the  eyes  of  the  spectators;  the 
remaining  victims  lingered  but  a  few  hours  longer.  Thus,  in 
a  manner  theatrical  enough,  not  to  say  tragic,  was  proclaimed 
the  unequivocal  victory  of  science." 

In  1885  Pasteur  announced  his  cure  for  hydrophobia,  the 
disease  following  the  bite  of  a  mad  dog,  and  since  this  date 
thousands  have  been  rescued  from  this  terrible  disease. 

This  was  followed  by  other  great  advances,  until  today 
diphtheria,  in  place  of  being  a  disease  in  which  the  death  rate 


1056  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

is  30  per  cent,  is  now  cut  to  less  than  three.  Typhoid  fever  is  no 
longer  the  great  scourge  of  the  armies,  and  the  Asiatic  cholera, 
and  the  yellow  fever  have  been  nearly  wiped  from  the  face  of  the 
earth.  These  are  being  accomplished  through  the  establish- 
ment of  these  principles:  First,  that  microorganisms  are  the 
descendants  of  other  similar  microorganisms.  It  is  these  which 
are  the  cause  of  the  communicable  diseases.  Second,  the  great 
majority  of  microorganisms  which  cause  disease  in  man  multiply 
only  in  the  body  of  man  or  the  lower  animals.  Third,  the  over- 
whelming majority  of  all  diseases  are  transmitted  through  di- 
rect contact  or  through  the  intervention  of  insects.  Fourth,  a 
high  state  of  bodily  health  does  not  confer  entire  immunity  to 
the  communicable  disease,  but  such  immunity  may  often  be  con- 
ferred by  the  causing  of  a  mild  attack  of  the  disease.  Fifth,  in 
some  diseases  the  immunity  may  be  transferred  from  one  animal 
to  another  through  the  blood  by  means  of  so-called  antitoxins. 
Logan,  Utah 


Hope 

Thou  wouldst  not,  couldst  not  sit  and  grieve, 
A  present  misery  enweave, 

O  friend,  didst  thou  but  know 
The  loveliness,  the  glow  and  shine 
In  one  forgotten  deed  of  thine. 

Such  grace  it  doth  bestow! 

O  friend,  couldst  thou  but  know! 

Thou  wouldst  not,  couldst  not  longer  pine 
O'er  weak  and  faulty  step  of  thine, 

Couldst  thou  more  clearly  see 
The  unwrit  pages  pure  and  white 
The  unclaimed  chances,  gleaming  bright, 

That  gladly  welcome  thee, 

O  friend,  wouldst  thou  but  see! 

Rich  promises  of  good  are  thine, 

Where  faith,  sublime  and  clear,  doth  shine, 

Each  promise  shall  prevail. 
In  Wisdom's  ways  act  well  thy  part, 
With  Truth  thy  guide,  where'er  thou  art, 
And  God,  who  sees  thy  contrite  heart, 

Can  never,  never  fail: 

In  joy  thou  shJt  prevail! 

Minnie  Iverson  Hodappi 


Problems  of  the  Age 

Dealing  with  Religious,  Social  and  Economic  Questions  and  their 

Solution.    A  Study  for  the  Quorums  and  Classes 

of  the  Melchizedek  Priesthood 

By  Dr.  Joseph  M.  Tanner 


XXXI — Back  to  the  Land 

Present  Conditions. — In  another  chapter  I  have  called  attention  to  the 
excessive  and  dangerous  growth  of  the  so-called  middle-class,  or  non- 
producers.  Conditions  have  favored  their  occupations,  and  financial  pros- 
perity has  perhaps  attended  them  more  generously  than  it  has  the  farmer. 
The  war.  however,  is  bringing  about  a  very  realistic  change:  governments 
that  provide  for  the  armies  have  been  liberal  buyers.  They  have  fed  the 
soldiers  better  on  the  battlefields  than  the  same  men  have  been  cared  for  in 
times  of  peace.  Such  excessive  Government  demands  naturally  make 
prices  high.  It  should  then  be  observed  that  a  very  large  proportion  of 
every  army  is  taken  from  the  producing  classes,  especially  from  the  farms, 
where  the  vigor  of  manhood  is  perhaps  more  abundantly  found.  A  large 
army  of  farm  men  will  lose  their  lives  in  battle  or  become  cripples,  and 
thereby  unfitted  for  farm  life.  It  goes,  therefore,  without  saying,  that  the 
number  of  men  qualified  to  conduct  operations  upon  the  farm  will  be 
enormously  decreased.  In  the  civilized  countries  of  the  world  there  is  no 
place  for  the  "mujik"  or  the  "fellahin."  Farm  work  has  made  rapid  strides 
in  the  direction  of  scientific  practice  and  theory. 

As  a  nation  grows  in  years,  it  settles  down  to  an  inherited  classification; 
as  with  father,  so  with  son.  It  will  not  be  easy  to  tear  men  up  from  the 
roots  of  their  social  and  business  inheritance  and  experiences  and  transform 
them  into  a  new  and  different  life.  It  will  require  great  suffering  to  bring 
about  such  an  exchange  on  any  extensive  scale.  Such  conditions  mean  the 
continued  burden  of  higher  cost  in  living. 

Want  of  Preparation. — Our  agricultural  schools  will  not  alleviate  very 
greatly  such  an  unfortunate  condition.  They  are  based  too  extensively  on 
the  rest  of  our  school  practice.  We  seem  to  forget  that  the  most  serious 
thing  about  education  is  the  habit  which  our  modern  school  system  fastens 
upon  our  child  life, — the  book  habit.  Our  children  learn  to  hear  things, 
and  they  learn  to  tell  things,  but  only  in  rare  cases  do  they  acquire  the 
actual  habit  of  doing  things.  If  we  acquire  the  wrong  habit  of  life,  what 
we  learn  has  little  practical  value,  because  the  habits  we  have  acquired 
prevent  us  from  putting  our  knowledge  into  practice.  I  have  often  heard 
mothers  say  that  though  their  daughters  do  not  cook  and  do  much  house- 
work, they  know  how  to  do  it.  They  can  make  the  best  of  bread,  and  in 
fact  do  well  any  kind  of  housework.  But  there  is  after  all  a  wide  differ- 
ence between  acquiring  the  ability  to  do  a  thing  and  the  habit  of  doing  it. 
Ability  may  be  acquired  in  a  very  short  time,  whereas  it  takes  years  to 
acquire  a  habit.  It  is  not,  therefore,  so  much  a  question  of  what  this  girl 
can  do,  but  her  willingness,  her  contentment,  her  happiness,— in  other  words, 
her  habit  of  doing  it. 

Value  of  Farm  Life.— The  habits  of  our  lives  are  more  and  more  away 
from  the  farm.     Farmers  send  their  children  to  school,  and  likewise  change 


1058  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

the  habits  of  their  lives,  so  that  the  farm  is  now  in  a  process  of  race  suicide. 
We  may  as  well  face  an  unpleasant  truth,  and  confess  a  belief  that  the 
occupation  of  the  middle-man  is  really  more  respectable,  and  therefore 
more  desirable  than  work  on  the  farm.  The  influence  of  dress  is  beyond 
computation.  The  world  of  fashion  lays  its  load  even  upon  the  farm  boy, 
and  persuades  him  to  be  a  devotee  of  worldly  fashion.  Again,  work  on  the 
farm  is  more  strenuous:  it  has  its  out-of-door  life,  its  storms,  blizzards, 
cold,  heat,  and  other  things  that  make  life  often  quite  uncomfortable.  In 
contrast  with  these  unpleasant  conditions,  young  people  usually  manifest 
preference  for  employment  that  takes  them  away  from  this  important  source 
of  production. 

Are  we  really  destroying  farm  life?  If  so,  we  are  adding  by  so  much 
to  the  burdens  which  we  now  feel  from  the  high  cost  of  living.  It  is  a 
fallacy  to  suppose  that  in  the  civilized  world  there  will  be  enough  people  in 
the  so-called  lower  strata  of  industrial  life  to  do  all  the  work  needed  on  the 
farm.  The  truth  is  that  education  is  becoming  universal.  The  same  ideals 
and  aspirations  are  reaching  the  boys  on  the  farm  that  affect  the  boys  in 
the  so-called  more  refined  occupations  of  city  life.  What  does  it  mean? 
The  last  ten  years  has  taught  us  something  of  its  meaning.  The  next  ten  years 
will  teach  us  vastly  more.  "O,  well,"  it  will  be  answered,  "men  will  come  to 
the  farm  when  there  is  more  money  in  it."  Such  a  statement  is  made  in 
blind  ignorance  of  facts.  In  the  first  place,  men  will  have  to  be  trained 
for  the  farms  as  they  are  for  other  occupations.  If,  through  their  habits 
of  life,  the  farm  is  uncongenial  to  them,  they  will  work  only  half-heartedly. 

Farm  Education. — What  we  need  is  a  saner  belief  among  people  gen- 
erally of  what  the  farm  stands  for.  Our  vocational  life  today  is  guided  in 
the  vast  majority  of  cases  by  financial  considerations.  It  is  not  an  uncom- 
mon thing  to  see  men  leave  the  bent  of  their  minds,  turn  from  the  gifts 
with  which  God  has  liberally  endowed  them,  to  engage  often  in  some  un- 
congenial pursuit,  because  "there's  money  in  it."  Can  a  world  made  up 
almost  wholly  of  Mammon  endure? 

By  the  sweat  of  his  brow  man  was  required  to  live;  that  was  the  in- 
junction to  Adam  in  the  Garden  of  Eden.  Those  who  evade  it  pay  the 
penalty,  generally  in  physical  deterioration.  "How  can  you  stand  it?"  said 
an  on-looker  to  a  man  drudging  at  his  work  in  the  dirt  and  mud.  "I  can 
stand  it,"  he  replied,  "because  I  am  remunerated  in  the  fullest  degree  by  the 
enjoyment  of  my  food  and  sleep."  Of  course  there  is  overwork:  every 
virtue  offers  some  opportunity  for  abuse.  We  are  learning  through  this  war 
something  of  the  value  of  a  vigorous  manhood  as  an  asset  to  national  wealth 
and  events.  Men  and  women  who  maintain  proper  physical  valuations  in 
their  lives,  perform  an  important  duty  to  themselves,  but  they  perform  one 
equally  great  to  their  children,  and  their  children's  children  after  them. 
"We  owe  our  children  an  education."  That  is  true,  but  there  is  a  priority 
lien  upon  their  right  to  enjoy  health  and  vigorous  bodies,  which  nothing 
promotes  more  than  farm  life. 

Morals  of  the  Farm.— Our  farm  life  has  also  great  moral  value.  It  af- 
fords less  time  for  idleness,  with  its  attendant  evils.  There  is  more  remove 
from  social  evils.  It  brings  men  into  intimate  contact  with  the  inexorable 
laws  of  Nature,  which  he  learns  to  respect  more  upon  the  farm  than  per- 
haps anywhere  else  in  the  world.  There  he  enjoys  more  than  elsewhere  the 
double  opportunity  of  self-examination  and  communion  with  his  conscience 
and  the  punishments  which  Nature  inflicts,  not  only  upon  those  who  violate 
her  laws,  but  upon  those  who  neglect  them.  "Back  to  the  land"  has  also  its 
intelb  ual  value,  because  physical  and  intellectual  manhood  and  woman- 
hooC.  are  kindred.  Then  we  have  come  to  study  the  whys  and  the  where- 
fores, and  the  processes  of  Nature.    The  farm  offers  abundant  opportunities 


PROBLEMS  OF  THE  AGE  1059 

for  meditations,  analogies,  and  those  studious  wonderments  that  help  men 
and  women  on  to  investigate  and  know  the  deeper  truths  of  life.  In  city 
life,  in  business  life,  men  ponder  too  little, — meditation  is  thrown  to  the 
winds.  Man's  place  in  the  universe,  and  his  relationship  to  God  take  but 
slight  hold  upon  his  life.  There  is  a  vast  difference  between  making  two 
blades  of  grass  grow  where  one  grew  before  and  making  $2.00  where  only 
$1.00  was  won  before.  The  former  process  requires  time,  industry,  patience, 
hope,  and  faith.  You  cannot  cheat  Mother  Nature.  If  you  do,  you  will 
raise  a  sickly  spear  of  grass  or  none  at  all.  Nature  has  her  inexorable  laws. 
She  demands  an  honorable  compensation.  Not  so  in  business  life:  it  is 
much  easier  to  cheat  men  than  it  is  to  swindle  nature.  The  Latter-dav  Saints, 
under  a  guiding  Providence,  have  been  driven  into  industrial  and  farm  life 
in  all  their  great  movements  from  their  homes  in  the  East  to  the  unredeemed 
lands  of  the  West.  Agriculture  was  their  first  problem  on  entering  the  val- 
leys of  the  mountains.  They  encourage  it;  they  know  its  virtues  and  its 
values.  It  would  be  strange  indeed  if  the  present  movement  awav  from 
the  land  did  not  touch  them  in  vital  parts;  but  fundamentally,  they  love  to 
till  the  soil,  from  a  sense  of  duty  as  well  as  from  a  wish  for  gain.  Many 
will  remember  the  ridicule  that  was  piled  upon  them  in  days  gone  by  be- 
cause they  talked  water  ditches  and  the  best  methods  of  farming,  from  the 
pulpit.  They  knew  their  God-appointed  task,  and  went  about  it  in  their 
appointed  way. 

The  cry  has  gone,  as  a  voice  out  of  the  wilderness,  "Back  to  the  Land." 
But  will  the  cry  be  more  a  wail  of  distress  than  a  heartfelt  desire  to  relieve 
the  burden  of  the  world  by  lending  a  helping  hand  to  that  industry  that 
offers  grave  dangers  by  the  neglect  of  it  to  the  social  and  industrial  happi- 
ness of  the  world. 

Revelation. — "And,  as  I,  the  Lord,  in  the  beginning  cursed  the  land, 
so  in  the  last  days  have  I  blessed  it,  in  its  time,  for  the  use  of  my  Saints, 
that  they  may  partake  the  fatness  thereof"  (Doc.  and  Cov.  61:17). 


XXXII. — Back  to  the  Land  (Continued) 

Increase  in  Production. — A  great  increase  in  production  may  be 
achieved  by  the  tillage  of  waste  lands  in  different  parts  of  the  less  civilized 
countries,  such  as  Russia  and  Turkey.  But  it  is  doubtful  if  these  countries 
will  prove  very  attractive  to  a  farming  element  that  has  grown  up  in  the 
enjoyment  of  higher  civilization. 

Great  increase  in  production  may  also  be  brought  about  by  the  more 
intensive  cultivation  of  the  soil.  Agricultural  writers  point  out,  therefore, 
the  great  future  possibilities  and  the  great  inducements  that  may  be  counted 
on  to  take  men  from  the  distributive  and  speculative  centers  of  our  com- 
mercial life  back  to  farming.  There  are,  however,  some  very  distinct  ob- 
stacles in  the  way  of  a  return  to  the  land.  There  are  two  sources  by 
which  it  may  be  obtained:  first,  through  our  system  of  Government  gifts 
by  means  of  homesteads  and  pre-emptions.  Lands  are  rising  in  value. 
The  war  and  even  pre-war  conditions  have  shown  the  great  financial  oppor- 
tunities of  farm  life.  Those  who  have  struggled  through  many  years  of 
want,  and  scarcity  will  appreciate  and  enjoy  the  rising  values  of  farm 
produce.  They  will  cling  more  tenaciously  to  their  lands,  and  lands  will 
not  in  time  be  so  easily  acquired. 

Equipment.— The  equipment  of  a  modern  farm  is  not  by  any  means 
what  it  was  twenty  years  ago.     Whether  a  man  uses  horses  or  engines  of 


1060  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

modern  make,  the  equipment  becomes  extremely  expensive.  Farm  machinery 
is  soaring  in  value,  and  the  cost  of  equipping  a  modern  farm  runs  into  the 
thousands.  Then  men  must  wait  for  returns — sometimes  one,  two,  )r  even 
three  years. 

Live  Stock. — Live  stock  is  becoming  scarcer  and  more  expensive;  it  is 
estimated  that  since  the  war  began  there  has  been  a  decrease  of  the  live 
stock  in  Europe  of  something  over  115,000,000  head,  and  this  loss  consists, 
for  the  most  part,  in  breeding  stock.  If  these  countries  regain  their  past  na- 
tional prosperity  in  agriculture  and  livestock,  the  governments  must  come 
to  the  assistance  of  the  farmers.  That  will,  of  course,  mean  increased  tax- 
ation and  the  threatened  break-up  of  social  life  that  is  sure  to  follow  any 
breakdowns  among  the  governments  of  Europe.  In  this  country  it  will  be 
more  difficult  for  the  government  to  finance  individual  farms. 

After  War  Conditions. — Some  very  important  changes  are  taking  place 
during  the  present  war  that  must  have  far-reaching  consequences  when  peace 
comes:  those  who  have  any  familiarity  vith  living  conditions  among  the  mil- 
lions of  toilers  in  Europe  can  readily  underrtand  how  greatly  their  diet  has 
been  improved  by  the  governments  which  drafted  them  into  war.  It  is  esti- 
mated by  some  that  the  soldier  is  eating  at  least  five  times  as  much  meat  as 
he  ate  in  private  life.  Some  figure  that  the  increase  has  been  ten-fold.  As 
the  war  lasts  into  years,  the  meat-eating  habit  will  grow  upon  the  soldier; 
his  improved  diet  he  will  not  easily  surrender  when  peace  comes,  and  it 
must  depend  on  his  wage-earning  capacity.  He  has  learned  during  this  war 
that  the  government  may  do  many  things  to  ameliorate  the  stringent  condi- 
tions of  peace  life.  With  meat  growing  scarcer  and  the  ineat-eating  habit 
increasing,  it  is  not  difficult  to  foresee  grave  dangers  to  financial  and  social 
order  with  the  return  of  peace. 

Live  Stock. — As  a  restriction  upon  any  rapid  increase  in  agriculture, 
we  are  confronted  by  the  fact  that  our  horsepower  has  also  decreased  rap- 
idly since  the  war  began.  Tractors,  it  is  true,  may  take  the  place  of  this 
old  friend  of  the  farm,  but  that  means  also  an  enorn.ous  increase  in  gasoline, 
which  is  likely  to  be  almost  entirely  consumed  by  trucks  and  pleasure  autos. 
The  department  of  Washington  has  given  out  statistics  upon  our  decrease 
in  horsepower  throughout  the  United  States.  I  quote  as  follows  from  the 
New  York  Herald,  Sunday,  September  14,  1917: 

"Figures  recently  published  bv  the  Department  of  Commerce  at 
Washington  show  that  exports  of  horses  in  the  last  fiscal  year  aggre- 
gated 278,674,  as  compared  with  357,553  in  1916,  and  289,340  in  1915. 
Exports  of  mules  during  the  same  period  were  65,788  in  1915,  111,915 
in  1916,  and  136,689  in  1917.  Here  is  a  total  of  928,567  horses  and 
314,3.2  mules  sent  abroad  in  the  three  years  ending  last  June,  or  a 
total  of  1,239,959  horses  and  mules. 

"The  period  covered  by  the  official  figures  goes  back  to  'the  day1 
of  Germany's  amazing  attempt  to  repeat  Bismarck's  successful  coup 
de  main  of  1870,  with  the  world  instead  of  France  alone  as  the  ob- 
jective. These  revised  government  statistics  thus  fairly  represent  all 
horses  and  mules  sent  to  the  war  zone  up  to  last  July,  since  which 
time  the  shipments  are  understood  to  have  been  comparatively  light. 
"The  value  of  American  war  horses  exported  now  exceeds  a  quar- 
ter of  a  billion  dollars.  The  government  estimate  is  $197,103,009  for 
horses  and  $63,497,309  for  mules,  making  a  total  of  $260,590,318.  This 
is  an  average  of  about  $212  for  horses  and  $201  for  mules." 

There  is  now  also  a  very  pronounced  movement  in  favor  of  eating 
horse-flcJi.     The  use  of  horses  for  food  in  European  countries  has  become 


PROBLEMS  OF  THE  AGE  1061 

quite  general.  It  enters  particularly  strongly  in  the  production  of  a  great 
variety  of  sausages,  and  millions  of  pounds  of  horses  are  every  year  con- 
sumed in  European  countries.  In  the  United  States  there  are  probably  five 
million  men  who,  during  their  lives  in  various  nations  of  Europe,  have  ac- 
quired the  habit  of  eating  horse-flesh.  They  declare  that  such  meat  has  not 
only  a  pleasing  taste,  but  that  it  is  also  wholesome  and  is  indeed  preferred 
by  some  even  to  beef  or  pork.  These  European  immigrants  would  fre- 
quently return  to  the  diet  of  horse  meat  to  which  they  were  accustomed  in 
their  native  lands.  Their  wives  and  children  will  also  eat  it,  and  there  is 
going  on  today  in  the  United  States  an  agitation  for  the  repeal  of  those 
laws  which  exclude  horse  flesh  as  an  article  of  food. 

Land  Values  and  Mortgages. — I  give  below  some  figures  showing  the 
enormous  liabilities  which  farmers  through  the  United  States  have  incurred 
by  means  of  loans.  In  many  instances  they  represent  purchases  and  im- 
provements, but  no  doubt  in  a  large  number  of  cases  loans  represent  the 
pressing  needs  of  the  farmers  for  running  expenses,  together  with  some 
extravagances,  of  which  they  are  no  doubt  guilty.  The  margin  on  an  aver- 
age between  expenses  and  profits  has  not  been  very  great.  The  success,  how- 
ever, of  the  farmers  in  elevating  past  conditions  show  that  the  industry  of 
agriculture  is  becoming  more  profitable.  I  quote  from  The  Outlook  of 
September  26,  1917: 

Value   of  American  farms,  $40,000,000,000. 

Value  of  annual  farm  output  in  food  and  other  raw  materials, 
$10,000,000,000. 

Public  investment  in  long-time  loans  (mortgages)  on  the  $40,- 
000,000,000  worth  of  farm  property,  $3,500,000,000. 

Seasonal  short-time  credit  granted  by  banks  to  farmers  on  the 
security  of  the  $10,000,000,000  harvest,  $2,000,000,000. 

Total  agricultural  credit,  $5,500,000,000. 

*  *  *  *  * 

Two  hundred  and  twenty  life  insurance  companies  own  $700,- 
000,000  farm  mortgages. 

Eighteen  thousand  banks  (State  banks,  trust  companies  and  sav- 
ings banks)  own  $750,000,000. 

Private  investors,  estates,  trustees,  colleges,  and  other  institutions, 
both  American  and  foreign,  have  $2,000,000,000  invested  in  these  loans 
on  farm  lands.  Of  this  $2,000,000,000  about  $500,000,000  has  been  sold 
through  the  medium  of  the  banks,  while  the  remaining  $1,500,000,000 
has  been  arranged  either  through  the  agency  of  farm  mortgage  banking 

houses  or  directly  between  lender  and  borrower. 

***** 

Investment  houses  that  have  been  in  business  for  half  a  century, 
lending  money  to  farmers  on  the  security  of  land  under  cultivation, 
report  that  they  have  never  lost  a  dollar  of  principal  or  interest  for 
any  customer. 

The  insurance  company  having  the  largest  investment  in  farm 
mortgages  ($100,000,000)  states  that  it  has  never  been  able  to  discover 
a  more  desirable  channel  in  which  to  invest  its  funds- 
Universities  and  other  institutions  that  for  many  years  have  been 
placing  all  or  part  of  their  endowment  funds  in  farm  mortgages  report 
that  they  have  suffered  no  losses,  and  know  of  no  safer  way  to  obtain 
their  income. 

The  banks  of  one  of  the  smaller  Eastern  states,  that  have  invested 
nearly  fifty  millions  of  their  depositors'  funds  in  Western  mortgages, 
have  made  but  one  loss  in  thousands  of  transitions  extending  over 
many  years. 

A  number  of  Canadian  companies  in  business  for  forty  years  have 


1062  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

never  failed  to  pay  interest  and  principal  to  their  clients.  No  Cana- 
dian mortgage  company  has  ever  defaulted  on  a  payment  due  to  a 
farm  mortgage  investor. 

The  best  test  of  the  soundness  of  farm  mortgages  as  investments 
is  that  hundreds  of  millions  of  dollars  of  them  are  held  by  our  most 
conservative  institutions — savings  banks,  trust  companies,  and  life  in- 
surance companies. 

***** 

The  period  of  wildcat  and  careless  farm  mortgage  flotation  has 
the  same  relation  to  the  farm  mortgage  business  today  that  the  earlier 
period  of  wildcat  state  banking  has  to  present-day  banking.  Those 
days  are  long  since  gone.  There  is  no  more  possibility  of  the  farm 
mortgage  business  being  undermined  by  unsound  management  than 
there  is  of  our  banking  system  falling  to  pieces.  Since  the  collapse 
of  those  inflated  companies  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago,  no  field  of 
investment  in  America  has  had  so  clean  a  record.  But  even  through 
the  days  of  the  farm  mortgage  company  craze  there  were  the  houses 
that  continued  to  do  business  on  conservative  lines  and  are  doing 
business  today  with  the  enviable  record  of  never  having  lost  a  dollar 
for  an  investor.  In  what  other  field  of  investment  could  such  a  record 
be  found? 


XXXIII.—Fast  Offerings 

Law  of  Sacrifice. — The  law  of  sacrifice  is  one  of  the  most  universal  of 
God's  laws.  When  ancient  Israel  put  upon  the  altar  the  firstlings  and  the 
best  of  their  flocks  and  herds  and  saw  the  flesh  consumed  in  smoke,  they 
would  not  be  human  if  they  did  not  feel  some  taint  of  selfishness  and  a 
disposition  to  keep  the  best  for  their  own  use.  In  the  days  of  their  devotion 
to  God  they  were  strictly  honest  in  this  divine  requirement.  In  the  days  of 
their  transgressions,  sacrifices  were  performed  in  a  perfunctorv  manner  and 
without  any  scrupulous  efforts  to  perform  exactly  the  requirements  of  God. 

Emerson,  in  his  "Law  of  Compensation,"  undertakes  to  show  how  well 
balanced  our  gains  and  losses,  our  prosperity  and  reverses,  our  benefits  and 
adversities  are.  What  a  man  gains  in  money  he  may  lose  in  health.  What 
he  gains  in  the  financial  world  he  may  lose  in  self-respect.  What  he  gains 
in  intrigue  he  may  lose  in  friendship.  All  in  all,  among  the  inhabitants  of 
the  earth,  the  unequal  gaining  qualities  are  not  so  great  as  might  be  sup- 
posed. 

Fasting. — God  requires  of  his  people,  for  example,  the  observance  of  a 
fast  day  once  a  month.  For  each  person  in  the  home  a  certain  amount  is 
required  as  a  fast  offering,  and  when  this  law  is  properly  observed  it  nets 
a  very  considerable  income  for  the  support  of  the  poor.  True,  people  get 
hungry,  but  it  is  in  that  state  of  physical  want  that  their  humility  and  sym- 
pathies are  reached.  It  is  in  that  state  of  physical  want  that  they  are  com- 
pelled to  stop  and  think  of  those  who  are  in  actual  need  of  food. 

The  satisfied  man  is  not  always  a  very  grateful  man.  Neither  is  he  a 
sympathetic  or  generous  hearted  man.  It  would  be  calamitous  to  the  human 
family  if  people  experienced  only  the  feelings  of  satisfaction.  In  this  active, 
feverish  age,  men  are  asked  to  stop  and  think,  weigh  and  consider.  Once 
a  month  fast  day  gives  them  a  most  excellent  opportunity. 

Prayer. — God,  in  his  requirements,  as  set  forth  in  the  Doctrine  and  Cov- 
enants, has  prescribed  that  along  with  fasting  there  should  be  observed  the 
practice  of  prayer.  The  two  are  naturally  associated.  Men  may,  when  in  a 
state  of  hunger,  think  of  their  hunger,  but  they  do  not  give  themselves  up 


PROBLEMS  OF  THE  AGE  1063 

to  the  sins  of  self-6atisfaction.  Their  physical  condition  reminds  them  that 
whatever  the  obligations  of  life  may  be,  there  is  a  duty  toward  the  poor 
and  toward  God. 

The  Lord,  in  establishing  the  principle  of  fast  offering,  says  that  the 
Saints  should  fast  that  their  joy  may  be  full.  It  is  the  fulfilment  of  a  duty 
in  a  quest  for  joy.  The  reaction  from  a  day  of  fasting  is  one  of  apprecia- 
tion and  gratitude,  and  a  sense  of  appreciation  carries  with  it  a  very  large 
measure  of  joy.  Men  and  women,  therefore,  are  blessed  in  their  lives  and 
their  spirits  and  their  contentment  when  they  fulfil  a  duty  from  which  they 
may,  if  they  will,  receive  some  special  blessing. 

One  of  the  troubles  that  people  in  this  world  suffer  from  is  the  dispo- 
sition to  be  forgetful.  They  do  not  think  of  the  poor,  and  when  they  do 
not  think  of  people  much  they  care  little  for  them.  Then  the  rich  oppress 
the  poor.  Such  would  hardly  be  the  case  were  they  fasting  and  praying 
for  those  who  need  their  offering.  Christ  said,  "The  poor  ye  have  with 
you  alwavs."  They  are  a  part  of  every  community,  of  every  state,  of  every 
nation.  The  manner  of  seeking  alms  for  their  support  is  very  often  annoy- 
ing, nor  is  it  always  generously  given. 

Compensations. — There  are  two  compensations  to  fasting.  One  is  its 
bodily  advantages;  as  a  health-promoting  practice,  too  much  cannot  be  said 
of  it.  On  the  other  hand,  it  supplies  an  abundant  need  for  those  who  are 
poor.  Let  us  say  that  in  the  United  States  there  are  a  hundred  million 
people,  that  the  fast  offerings  once  a  month  average  only  10  cents  per 
person  throughout  the  whole  country.  That  would  mean  $10,000,000  a  month 
or  $120,000,000  a  year.  That  is  an  enormous  sum  and  would  go  far  towards 
alleviating  the  sufferings  of  those  who  were  too  poor  to  meet  the  needs  of 
their  daily  lives. 

The  organization  of  the  Church  is  such  that  when  the  fast  offerings 
in  one  ward  or  district  are  not  all  required  by  the  members  of  that  ward 
they  may  be  transferred  directly  to  the  Presiding  Bishop  of  the  Church,  who 
distributes  them  to  those  wards  which  need  them  more  and  have  more  poor 
people  in  their  midst.  The  General  Bishop  of  the  Church  has  an  office 
which  might  be  properly  called  a  clearing  house  for  fast  day  contributions, 
to  the  poor. 

What  Fast  Offerings  Would  Mean  to  the  United  States. — If  the  contribu- 
tions were  15  cents  a  month  per  capita,  they  would  mean  $15,000,000  a 
month,  or  $180,000,000  a  year.  It  is  a  vast  amount,  but  it  would  be  both 
given  and  saved,  and  no  hardship  whatever  would  be  felt. 

On  fast  day  the  meeting  is  given  over  to  the  audiences  to  bear  testi- 
monies, give  expression  to  their  gratitude  and  thankfulness  to  God  for  the 
favors  they  enjoy.  A  spirit  of  dependence  prevails.  The  congregation  feel 
the  necessity  of  one  another's  love  and  support.  The  hunger  which  they 
experience  teaches  them  that  God  is  the  giver  of  life,  that  after  all,  to  him 
we  owe  our  "daily  bread." 

Poverty  General. — There  are  those  whom  the  Doctrine  and  Covenants 
classes  "unworthy  poor" — those  who  through  idleness,  delay  and  neglect  are 
themselves  responsible  for  the  unfortunate  financial  circumstances  in  which 
they  find  themselves.  There  are  millions  of  the  human  family  with  inferior 
earning  capacity,  and  it  is  not  a  very  easy  matter  to  determine  who  are  the 
deserving  and  who  are  the  undeserving;  but  poverty  is  a  condition  that 
should  be  ameliorated  as  far  as  possible  by  those  who  are  in  a  position 
to  do  so.  It  would  be  better  to  give  some  to  the  unworthy  than  to  neglect 
in  fine  discriminations  those  who  are  deserving.  It  should  here  be  stated, 
however,  that  poverty  is  not  necessarily  an  evil.  It  exists  the  world  over, 
and  some  cases  are  due  no  doubt  to  unfavorable  circumstances  and  condi- 
tions over  which  people  have  no  control.    In  a  last  analysis  something  may 


1064  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

be  said  in  favor  of  the  disciplinary  value  of  those  who  are  not  possessed 
with  much  of  this  world's  goods.  When  men  and  women  border  on  want 
they  naturally  feel  a  dependence  that  otherwise  they  do  not  experience.  Pov- 
erty may  then  be  said,  in  some  instances,  to  be  a  positive  blessing,  since  it 
prevents  men  and  women  from  the  indulgences  of  those  evils  which  money 
too  frequently  encourages.  It  is  said  that  among  2,500,000  rejects  for  the 
army  in  the  recent  drafts  a  large  majority  of  them  came  from  the  families  of 
the  rich  and  well-to-do.  They  have  been  running  their  race  rapidly  and 
are  unfitted  therefore  for  military  service.  A  recent  suggestion  has  come 
from  the  physicians  of  the  country  that  notwithstanding  their  physical  de- 
ficiencies, they  be  drafted  and  taken  into  the  training  camps  in  order  that 
their  manhood  and  physical  ad\ancement  may  be  greatly  helped.  This, 
however,  would  bring  upon  our  country  a  large  expense  for  many  that  are 
not  needed  and  for  the  undeserving. 

In  the  early  periods  of  the  Church  men  were  required  to  consecrate  the 
property  which  they  did  not  really  need.  This  law  of  consecration  brought 
the  people  into  a  living  condition  of  common  brotherhood. 

Frugality,  superior  intelligence,  and  industry,  would  soon,  however, 
create  differences.  The  law  respecting  the  poor  was  given  by  revelation  to 
the  Prophet  Joseph  Smith. 

Revelation. — And  thus,  with  the  sword,  and  by  bloodshed,  the  inhab- 
itants of  the  earth  shall  mourn;  and  with  famine,  and  plague,  and  earth- 
quakes, and  the  thunder  of  heaven,  and  the  fierce  and  vivid  lightning  also, 
shall  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth  be  made  to  feel  the  wrath,  and  indigna- 
tion and  chastening  hand  of  an  Almighty  God,  until  the  consumption  de- 
creed, hath  made  a  full  end  of  all  nations"  (Doc.  and  Cov.  87:6;   1:11-15). 


Why  Smoke? 


To  help  solve  the  problem  of  smoking  among  Boy  Scouts, 
a  writer  in  Scouting  declares  that  the  scoutmaster  must  explain 
to  the  boys  certain  facts: 

He  must  recognize  the  statements  of  our  best  medical  authorities  that 
no  good  comes  from  smoking.  *  *  *  He  must  admit  that  smoking  is 
expensive,  and  therefore  unpatriotic,  and  that  the  money  spent  for  tobacco 
might  better  be  invested  in  War  Savings  Stamps,  and  that  if  the  railroads 
handled  less  tobacco,  they  would  have  just  as  much  more  space  for  more 
necessary  commodities.  He  must  explain  that  though  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  sells 
tobacco  to  the  soldiers,  smoking  is  never  necessary  for  any  person  under 
any  situation;  [Why  should  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  or  any  Latter-day  Saint  sell 
tobacco?— Ed.]  that  President  Wilson,  bearing  the  greatest  mental  burden 
of  anyone  in  the  country,  does  not  smoke,  and  that  Abraham  Lincoln  did 
not  smoke;  that  many  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  secretaries,  chaplains,  and  army 
officers  disapprove  of  the  widespread  habit  of  smoking  in  the  army.  And 
finally,  he  must  appeal  to  the  boys,  as  scouts,  to  be  better  than  the  average 
person;  to  set  before  themselves  the  highest  standards  of  patriotism  and  of 
manhood,  and  not  to  begin  to  smoke,  or  if  they  have  already  begun,  to  stop 
before  it  becomes  a  fixed  habit.  The  scouts  should  be  inspired  bv  the  ideal 
ot  making  the  lofty  patriotism  and  high  character  of  their  troop  one  of  the 
good  turns  which  they  are  performing  for  their  community. 


Healing  and  the  Emmanuel  Movement 


By  Joseph  A.  West 


In  the  August  number  of  the  Era,  I  dwelt  on  the  power  of 
mental  influence  in  healing,  as  practiced  by  the  various  healing 
fraternities.  In  this  short  chapter  I  deal  mostly  with  the  Em- 
manuel Movement,  a  prominent  sect  using  mental  influence  in 
healing.  I  trust  that  in  the  closing  paragraphs  I  have  made 
thoroughly  plain  my  purpose  in  these  writings,  in  that  I  have 
shown  the  vital  difference  between  mental  influence,  as  de- 
pended largely  upon  by  various  healing  organizations,  and  the 
healing  of  the  sick  through  the  ministrations  of  the  priesthood 
of  the  living  God. 

The  Emmanuel  Movement  is  of  comparative  recent  date 
and  had  its  origin  with  Dr.  Ellwood  Worcester,  D.  D.,  Ph.  D., 
from  whose  excellent  work  entitled  The  Christian  Church  as  a 
Healing  Power,  I  shall  quote,  for  I  have  long  since  learned  that 
no  one  can  better  represent  a  movement  than  the  person  from 
whom,  or  through  whom,  it  had  its  origin  or  inception.  How 
different  would  be  the  opinion  of  the  world  today  regarding 
"Mormonism,"  if  this  course  had  been  pursued  with  regard  to 
it! 

In  some  respects  the  Emmanuel  Movement  is  quite  differ- 
ent from  some  of  the  other  healing  fraternities  of  the  day,  al- 
though the  underlying  principle,  as  stated  above,  is  the  same 
with  them  all.  Of  the  difference  between  it  and  Christian 
Science,  Dr.  Worcester  says: 

"The  two  movements,  so  far  from  having  any  common  motive,  stand 
opposite  at  almost  every  point.  In  the  first  place,  Christian  Science,  in 
common  with  otherv  irrational  healing  cults  of  our  time,  has  openly  and 
clearly  broken  with  academic  medicine,  whereas  the  Emmanuel  Movement 
is  the  first  effort  to  stem  the  tide  of  disfavor  and  distrust  with  which  a 
large  section  of  American  society  regard  the  science  of  medicine.  The 
Emmanuel  Movement  could  not  maintain  itself  a  single  day  without  the 
cooperation  of  the  medical  profession.  In  the  second  place,  Christian 
•Science  is  a  distinct  cult  or  system,  with  a  revelation,  a  sacred  book,  a 
theology,  a  form  of  worship,  a  therapeutic  procedure  all  its  own:  the 
Emmanuel  Movement  claims  no  new  revelation,  no  sacred  books,  no  thera- 
neutic  procedure  excpt  such  as  is  common  to  all  scintific  workers,  no  wor- 
ship peculiar  to  itself,  no  theology  except  the  theology  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment as  modern  critical  scholarship  has  disclosed  it.  In  the  third  place 
Christian  Science  makes  no  distinction  between  the  cases  which  it  under- 
takes to  cure.  The  Emmanuel  Movement,  on  the  other  hand,  makes  a  very 
rigid  distinction  between  functional  and  organic  cases,  and  sets  aside  the 
latter  for  medical  physiological,  surgical  treatment,  though  even  in  these 
it  recognizes  the  influence  of  mental  and  spiritual  processes  as  at  least  help- 


1066  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

ful  in  character.  *  *  *  They  have  only  one  thing  in  common — both 
attempt  to  apply  an  idealistic  belief  to  the  problems  of  life.  One  idealism  is 
crude  and  vague,  the  other  is  critical  and  coherent;  the  one  wilfully  shuts 
its  eyes    to  convenient  facts,  the  other  seeks  to  explain  all  the  facts." 

No  person  is  received  for  treatment  by  the  Emmanuelists, 
either  in  this  country  or  England,  without  the  approval  of  some 
physician  of  recognized  standing.  In  fact  there  is  a  Medical 
Advisory  Board  which  gives  counsel  and  direction  regarding  the 
manner  in  which  the  work  is  to  be  done.  Of  the  medical  frater- 
nity the  doctor  has  this  to  say : 

"In  our  view,  the  discoveries  of  medical  science  are  as  much  a  revela- 
tion of  the  divine  order  as  the  Ten  Commandments  or  the  Sermon  on  the 
Mount,  and  these  discoveries  must  be  utilized  for  God's  Kingdom." 

The  aims  of  the  Emmanuel  Movement  are  thus  set  forth: 

"It  is  to  bring  into  effective  cooperation  the  physician,  the  psychologi- 
cally trained  clergyman,  and  the  trained  social  worker  in  the  alleviation 
and  arrest  of  certain  disorders  of  the  nervous  system  which  are  now  gen- 
erally regarded  as  involving  some  weakness  or  defect  of  character  of  more 
or  less  complete  mental  disassociation.  *  *  *  We  confine  our  efforts  to 
the  so-called  "functional"  disorders,  because  we  believe  this  is  the  legit- 
imate sphere  of  our  work.  *  *  *  We  also  confine  ourselves  strictly  to 
the  religious  and  psychological  side  of  the  problem,  and  while  our  treat- 
ment on  the  ethical  and  religious  side  is  fe,oing  on,  the  physician  in  charge 
of  the  case  administers  contemporaneously  whatever  medical  remedies  he 
may  see  fit.  If  nervous  sufferers,  victims  of  alcohol  and  other  drugs,  the 
unhappy,  the  sorrowful,  would-be  suicide,  and  other  children  of  melancholy 
felt  that  religion  meant  nothing  to  them  there  would  be  no  place  for  work 
like  ours,  and  the  motive  for  undertaking  it  would  be  wanting." 

Answering  the  theological  critic  who  "objects  to  the  thera- 
peutic use  of  Christianity,  on  the  ground  that  such  use  is  a  de- 
gradation of  the  lofty  purposes  which  religion  was  designed  to 
subserve,"  the  doctor  says: 

"The  Christian  religion  was  never  more  in  its  element,  never  shines  with 
a  greater  glory,  than  when  it  is  seen  entering  the  dark  places  of  our  expe- 
rience to  cast  out  the  demons  of  fear,  worry,  passion,  despair,  remorse, 
overstrained  grief,  and  disgust  of  life,  and  to  make  the  soul  and  body  a 
fit  temple  for  the  Holy  Spirit.  *  *  *  Our  emotions  play  a  very  impor- 
tant role  in  life.  They  quicken  the  pulse,  affect  the  circulation  of  blood, 
retard  or  promote  the  secretion  of  the  glands,  cause  serious  disturbances  of 
the  process  of  digestion  and  elimination,  and,  finally  and  most  wonderfully 
of  all,  even  work  changes  in  the  electrical  resistance  of  the  body.  In  the 
psychical  region,  it  is  the  emotions  that  make  or  mar  our  world.  The 
emotion  of  fear  disintegrates,  disharmonizes  the  inner  life,  while  its  op- 
posite— faith — unifies,  literally  makes  whole.  The  joyful  mood  is  the  mood 
of  health.  Freedom  from  undue  anxiety,  a  confident  attitude  towards  God 
and  the  universe,  a  peaceful,  cheerful  temper,  enable  mind  and  body  to 
function  right.  Whatever  produces  these  mental  states  may  be  said 
to  be  curative  in  character." 

Many  who  have  tried  it  know  the  soothing  as  well  as 
the  powerful  influence  of  prayer.  Psychologists  and  medical 
men  are    agreed  that  prayers  for  the  sick,  especially  if  the  sick 


HEALING  AND  THE  EMMANUEL  MOVEMENT  106? 

know  that  they  are  being  prayed  for,  very  often  have  a  curative 
power.  They  explain  it  as  the  principle  of  suggestion,  which 
"works  inhibitory  changes  in  the  central  nervous  system." 

We  have  the  testimony  of  men  in  different  ages  and  of  dif- 
ferent religious  faiths  that  through  prayer  has  come  to  them  a 
real  increase  of  strength  and  grace  evidencing  to  them  and  to  us 
that  God  is  no  respecter  of  persons.  That  prayer  brings  us  in 
close  touch,  so  to  speak,  with  God,  and  that  the  mind,  and 
through  the  mind  the  body,  are  actually  and  really  affected 
thereby,  so  that  the  individual  often  becomes  conscious  of  being 
in  actual  communication  with  a  higher,  mightier,  and  holier 
Power,  especially  is  this  the  case  when  prayer  is  inspired  by 
true  faith.  For  true  faith  is  a  shield  against  all  the  moral  mal- 
adies of  the  soul,  and  also  makes  men  inaccessible  to  those  cow- 
ardly emotions  of  nervous  people,  which  are  the  source  of  so 
many  of  the  physical  ailments  of  the  race. 

Medical  science  has  not  stopped  to  fully  estimate  the  inti- 
mate connection  between  moral  sin  and  physical  disease.  In 
many  cases  what  is  called  illness  is  due  to  moral  obliquity,  and 
the  compunctions  of  conscience  racking  the  nervous  fabric  of 
the  soul.  To  remedy  this  the  gospel  plays  a  most  conspicuous 
part,  whether  it  be  taught  in  its  perfection,  or  in  part,  its  re- 
sults are  proportionately  the  same.  Its  tendency  is  to  reconcile 
the  erring  one  to  his  Maker,  and  thus  bring  peace  to  the  troubled 
heart;  which  peace  means  happiness,  and  happiness  is  a  pro- 
moter of  health. 

We  find,  therefore,  that  what  is  being  done  by  the  Emman- 
uel Movement,  and  the  many  other  healing  movements  within 
the  Christian  church,  is  done  upon  natural  principles,  and  main- 
ly attributable  to  the  influence  that  they  are  able  to  bring  to 
bear  upon  the  patient  through  the  curative  operations  of  the 
mind.  It  is  upon  this  principle,  too,  that  so  many  cases  of  heal- 
ing are  performed  outside  of  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Lat- 
ter-day Saints,  and  among  those  who  are  agnostic  to  every  prin- 
ciple of  Christianity. 

In  striking  contrast  to  the  methods  pursued  by  the  many 
healing  fraternities  of  the  world  in  our  time,  the  healing  power 
of  the  priesthood  of  our  Redeemer  and  his  disciples  of  the  Chri  - 
tian  Era  and  of  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  today  stands  out 
most  conspicuously.  With  them  there  was  and  is  no  distinction 
made  between  the  physical  ailments  of  mankind.  All  who  come 
for  the  healing  power  of  the  priesthood,  and  can  exercise  the 
requisite  faith,  or  have  it  exercised  for  them,  obtain  a  bless- 
ing proportionate  to  the  measure  of  faith  exercised. 

Not  only  nervous  disease  have  been  cured  but  all  kind? 
of  organic  and  functional  diseases  as  well.    The  deaf,  the  dumb, 


1068  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

the  blind  and  those  maimed  and  mutilated  almost  beyond  recog- 
nition, have  been  restored  to  the  full,  free  use  of  all  their  fac- 
ulties and  powers,  and  even  the  dead  have  been  restored  to  life 
both  in  this  dispensation  and  in  that  of  Christ  and  his  apostles. 
All  these  things  have  been  fully  attested  in  the  lives  and  experi- 
ences of  the  disciples  of  Christ  both  then  and  now. 

These  things  are  not  spoken  of  boastfully  but  humbly  and 
with  thanksgiving  and  praise  to  God  who  thus  recognizes  and 
honors  the  acts  of  his  holy  priesthood  to  whom  he  gives  the 
commandment  to  anoint  the  sick  with  oil,  and  promises  that 
"the  prayer  of  faith  shall  save  the  sick,  and  the  Lord  shall  raise 
him  up." 

Not  that  every  one  thus  administered  to  shall  recover,  for 
it  is  an  unalterable  decree  that  all  shall  die,  but  only  those  unto 
whom  God  shall  see  fit  to  extend  his  healing  mercies. 

Healing  is  not  made  to  depend  upon  the  curative  processes 
of  the  mind,  after  long  and  skilful  training;  nor  upon  the  strong 
personality  of  those  who  administer;  but  entirely  upon  the  cura- 
tive and  regenerating  power  of  God,given  to  his  servants  through 
obedience  to  the  unchangeable  laws  and  ordinances  of  the  gos- 
pel. Fundamentally  these  are:  faith  in  God  and  in  Jesus  Christ 
his  Son,  and  in  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  in  all  their  teachings;  re- 
pentance from  sin  by  the  complete  abandonment  thereof;  bap- 
tism by  immersion  for  the  remission  of  sins  by  one  having 
divine  authority  to  act  in  the  sacred  name  of  the  Father  and  his 
Son  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  the  laying  on  of  the  hands  of  those 
similarly  commissioned  for  the  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost 

As  this  spirit  will  not  dwell  in  unholy  tabernacles  as  de- 
clared by  Paul,  and  its  powers  cannot  be  exercised  only  upon  the 
principles  of  righteousness,  as  set  forth  by  the  prophet  Joseph 
Smith,  men  thus  initiated  into  the  Church  and  receiving  the 
holy  priesthood,  must  live  righteous  lives  to  be  so  divinely 
favored,  as  either  to  be  healed  or  to  be  made  instrumentalities 
through  whom  the  sick  are  healed,  and  all  manner  of  physical 
ailments  are  removed.  When  this  is  done,  then  will  be  verily 
fulfilled  the  promise  that  Jesus  made  to  his  disciples,  when  he 
said:  "The  works  that  I  do,  ye  shall  do  aleo;  and  greater  works 
than  these  shall  ye  do,  because  I  go  unto  my  Father." 

While,  as  members  of  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter- 
day  Saints,  we  enjoy  these  inestimable  blessings,  let  us  not  fail 
to  recognize  and  give  due  credit  for  all  the  good  we  see  in 
the  world;  always  hoping  and  praying  that  our  Christian 
friends  may  be  led  to  see  the  greater  light  as  God  has  given  us  to 
see  it,  and  thereby  enter  upon  the  more  perfect  way  of  temporal 
and  eternal  life  to  the  glory  of  God,  our  common,  all  wise, 
eternal,  and  omnipotent  Father. 
Brigham  City,  Utah. 


With  Saw  and  Saw-Horse 


By  F.  H.  Sweet 


"S-s-sh-wish !  s-s-sh-er-wish ! "  gnawed  the  saw  teeth  through 
the  remaining  half  of  the  oak  stick,  and  presently  the  divided 
half  joined  the  two  pieces  already  on  the  ground.  One  of  the 
four-foot  sticks  sawed  three  times  made  it  of  stove-wood  size. 

As  the  wood-sawyer  placed  another  stick  on  the  sawhorse 
and  sunk  the  teeth  of  the  saw  in  with  a  long  downward  stroke, 
a  woman  appeared  in  the  kitchen  doorway  beyond  the  wood- 
pile. She  watched  the  workman  critically  until  four  more  stove- 
wood  sizes  dropped  upon  the  others.  Then  she  came  out,  fol- 
lowed by  a  young  woman. 

"You  saw  it  very  nicely,"  she  approved.  "Did  Bobby  Evans 
send  you?" 

"No,"  adding,  "Bobby  Evans?  Who  is  he,  Dr.  Joe's  son?" 

"Yes.  The  doctor  took  small  pox  from  one  of  his  patients, 
and  died.  He  was  too  tender-hearted  to  insist  on  his  sick  people 
paying,  so  left  nothing.  Bobby's  supposed  to  be  trying  to  help 
his  mother,  but  is  lazy  and  shirks  jobs,  after  he  takes  them.  He 
asked    to  cut  the  wood,  and  I  promised  it  to  him." 

"But  that  was  over  a  week  ago,  mother,"  reminded  the  girl. 
"You've  sent  word  to  him  twice  since  then,  and  yesterday  he  was 
sneaking  down  the  alley  when  I  saw  and  called  him.  But  he 
dodged  from  sight.     You  needn't  count  on  Bob  for  anything." 

"  I'm  afraid  not,"  regretted  her  mother.  "Still,  I  don't  like 
to  promise  a  job  and  not  keep  it,  unless  I'm  sure.  I'll  slip  across 
the  street  to  their  home  and  ask  Bobby's  mother,  then  come 
right  back.  I  do  need  the  wood  cut  at  once,  for  we're  all  out, 
and  my  husband  is  in  bed  with  a  broken  leg.  But  how  came  you 
to  start  in,"  curiously,  "if  no  one  hired  or  asked  you?" 

"Well,  partly  because  I  heard  yesterday  that  your  husband 
was  in  bed  with  a  broken  leg,"  answered  the  man.  "When  I 
passed  along  the  sidewalk  with  my  outfit  just  now  and  noticed 
this  pile  of  cordwood,  I  remembered  the  leg  and  came  in." 

"But  you  don't  know  my  husband,"  wonderingly — "what 
are  you  laughing  at,  Florence?" 

The  man  had  looked  toward  Florence,  too,  inquiringly.  But 
at  the  mother's  words  his  own  face  had  taken  on  a  sort  of  half 
grin,  which  the  woman  stared  at  a  moment,  then  exclaimed: 

"I  ought  to  know  that  grin.  Aren't  you  John  Lambert's  son 
— Billy?  Did  you  know  him,  Florence?  Is  that  what  you're 
laughing  at?" 


1070  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

"Yes,  and  I've  been  waiting  to  see  if  he  would  know  me," 
laughed  the  girl.  "One  couldn't  be  dragged  on  her  sled  so  much 
as  he  did  me  and  not  recognize  her  horse.  But  I've  changed  a 
lot  more  than  he  has,  of  course." 

The  man  placed  his  saw  against  the  sawhorse  and  advanced 
with  outstretched  hand. 

"So  you're  Florry,"  he  exclaimed.  "No,  I  didn't  know  you, 
not  even  when  your  mother  said  'Florence.'  I  never  thought 
of  you  by  the  full  name.  You  were  just  a  little  fat  lump  of  fun 
and  cute  sayings,  and  I  a  big  overgrown  17  year-old  who  had  the 
good  sense  to  appreciate  you." 

"Good  nature  not  to  repulse  me,"  nodded  the  girl,  her  hand 
in  his.  "After  you  picked  me  out  of  the  snow  that  day,  and  fixed 
me  nicely  on  your  sled,  and  pulled  me  all  the  way  to  the  kinder- 
garten door  of  the  school,  I'm  afraid  I  became  very  devoted,  and 
expected  and  exacted  everything  from  you.  And  you  fulfilled 
all  my  expectations,  dragging  me  to  school  regularly  every  day 
through  the  winter,  and  helping  me  in  the  summer.  Don't  you 
remember?  I  guess  I  was  fat  and  given  to  tumbling  on  the  least 
provocation.  But  it  was  funny.  I  was  5  and  you  17,  and  they 
called  you  my  knight  because  you  wouldn't  go  with  any  of  the 
big  girls.  Some  said  you  were  too  bashful.  But  I  know  better. 
When  the  teacher  was  going  to  whip  me  because  I  persisted  in 
laughing  out  loud,  you  walked  up  to  him  and  said  if  he  did  you'd 
whip  him.  Remember?  And  when  two  of  the  prettiest  big  girls 
were  scared  to  leave  the  school  on  account  of  some  drunken  men 
fighting  in  the  street,  you  went  and  took  them  by  the  arms  and 
led  them  right  past.  They  thought  you  were  awful  brave,  and 
showed  they  were  willing  for  you  to  go  round  with  them  more. 
But  you  never  did." 

"Maybe  it  was  on  account  of  you,"  he  smiled. 

"No,  it  wasn't,"  positively.  "It  was  just  that  you  didn't  care 
for  girls^-or  no,  I  guess  it  was  because  you  had  a  great  big  am- 
bition. You  were  going  off  to  make  your  own  way,  and  make  it 
big.  You  talked  it  over  with  me,  though  I  was  only  a  little  tot, 
and  I  don't  think  you  did  with  any  ond  else.  Generally  you 
were  pretty  quiet  when  out  with  people,  though  you  weren't 
bashful.  You  held  your  head  too  high  and  had  too  straight  a 
look  for  that.  I  was  only  seven  when  you  went  away,  right  after 
your  mother  died.  But  I've  never  forgotten  the  wonderful 
stories  you  told  me.  For  years  I  think  I  sort  of  mixed  you  with 
Dick  Whittington  going  to  London." 

"I  remember  you  were  a  good  listener,  Florry — Miss  Flor- 
ence, I  mean.  And  I  know  I  was  a  sad  brag.  It's  so  easy  to 
brag  when  young  and  starting  out  to  conquer.  The  humbleness 
comes  with  the  return,  when  the  big  things  are  left  behind." 


WITH  SAW  AND   SAW-HORSE  1071 

"You  were  not — successful,  then?"  a  troubled  look  coming 
to  her  face,  and  her  eyes  dropping  involuntarily  to  the  saw  and 
sawhorse.  "I'm  so  sorry.  I  don't  believe  there  ever  was  a  boy 
who  went  forth  better  fitted  and  more  confident  and  brave." 

"Very  few  reach  the  real  heights  of  their  dreaming*  I'm 
afraid,  Florry,"  he  answered.  "It's  good  to  have  the  dreaming, 
however,  for  it  makes  the  effort  more  single  hearted  and  pure 
and  is  a  help  over  some  of  the  quicksands.  But  here  comes  news 
of  Bobby." 

The  girl's  mother  was  entering  the  side  gate,  and  came 
straight  across  to  the  woodpile. 

"Bobby's  taken  a  job  at  catching  bait  for  some  fishing  visit- 
ors," she  said,  as  she  joined  them.  "It  don't  pay  him  much,  but 
it's  congenial  work  and  will  last  through  the  month  the  visitors 
are  here.  So  all  Bobby's  other  jobs  are  off,  I  suppose.  His 
mother's  getting  real  worried  about  the  boy.  I'll  be  glad  for 
you  to  finish  the  wood,  if  you  will,  Mr.  Lambert." 

"Billy,  please.  In  all  the  sixteen  years  I've  been  away  I 
didn't  hear  'Billy'  once.  I  was  getting  homesick  for  it,  I  think; 
and  when  the  doctor  orderd  me  from  work  I  couldn't  think  of 
anywhere  better  than  here,  though  I  have  no  kin  left." 

"You've  been  sick?"  asked  Florence  quickly. 

"No,  except  for  lack  of  some  such  exercise  as  this,  and  more 
air.  My  boarding  place  was  only  a  block  from  the  office,  and  I 
had  sixteen  years  of  it,  without  a  vacation  or  break.  I  went  there 
a  pretty  husky  young  fellow,  but  no  strength  can  withstand  such 
a  life  forever.  I  didn't  break  down,  though  the  doctor  ordered 
me  away.  I've  been  here  ten  days,  sawing  and  chopping,  and 
already  feel  myself  beyond  any  commiseration  a  semi-invalid. 
As  to  poor  Bobby,  I  must  look  him  up  and  see  if  I  can't  sort  of 
chum  him  into  better  behavior.  I  can  tell  him  some  rather 
wonderful  stories  about  his  father.  Joe  was  my  school-mate  and 
chum,  you  may  remember,  and  a  finer  boy  and  man  would  be 
hard  to  find.  So  much  good  can't  have  gone  wholly  to  waste 
in  the  boy.  Bobby's  been  allowed  to  run  wild  and  have  his 
way,  I  fancy,  with  his  good  points  lying  dormant." 

"Well,  I  hope  you  can  do  something  with  him,  for  the  sake 
of  his  mother.  She  and  your  mother  and  I  used  to  be  school- 
mates, too.  Now  I  must  hurry  back  to  my  cooking.  You'll  stay 
to  dinner,  Billy,  when  you  can  tell  something  about  your  city 
experiences.  I'm  real  sorry  they  didn't  turn  out  well,  though  I 
know  'twas  the  city's  fault,  not  yours.  But  I  do  think  you  might 
have  called  to  see  us  before  this.  Bobby's  mother  said  she'd 
heard  of  you  being  in  town  two  weeks,  sawing  wood  down 
among  the  very  poor  people  of  the  east  side.  I'm  afraid  that 
was  a  mistake,  for  some  of  'em  have  a  bad  name  for  paying. 


1072  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

Now  I  doubt  if  you  collected  half  your  money,  Billy,  did  you?" 

"Why— er,  no,  I  didn't,"  confessed  Billy. 

"Well,  'twas  a  mistake,"  she  repeated.  "What  you  should 
do  is  to  go  to  the  north  side,  among  the  richer  class,  who  have 
work  and  money  and  can  stand  higher  charges.  Even  along  here 
we  beat  down  the  scant  living  wages — have  to,  in  fact,  to  leave 
enough  to  sort  of  live  on  ourselves.    You'll  stay  to  dinner?" 

"Yes,  indeed.  And  I  did  call  on  you  the  very  day  after  I 
got  here,  at  the  old  place.  They  said  you'd  moved  over  this  way 
somewhere,  and — oh,  well,"  smiling  as  though  at  a  joke,  "I  was 
carrying  my  outfit,  and  soon  began  to  notice  that  the  few 
acquaintances  I  had  found  began  to  shun  me.  As  an  experiment 
I  put  myself  in  the  way  of  others,  and  with  hardly  an  exception 
they  did  the  same.    But  it  caused  me  to  stop  making  calls." 

"Another  mistake,"  calmly.  "You  should  have  kept  on  till 
you  found  us.  I  rather  honor  you  for  the  independence  of 
carrying  your  saw  and  sawhorse  openly  along  the  street.  A  good 
many  wouldn't.  And  I  can  understand  the  rest,  too.  My  hus- 
band met  with  reverses,"  a  shadow  coming  to  her  face,  "and  we 
had  to  sell.  He  isn't  a  very  good  business  man,  and  trusted  his 
friends  too  much.  They  took  advantage  of  him.  They  even 
fixed  it  so  as  to  have  a  big  mortgage  on  his  house.  Then,  with 
the  money  gone,  they  ceased  being  friends  and  became  mere 
creditors,  and  rather  hard  ones.  So  we  understand,  and  you 
needn't  be  afraid  of  Florence  or  myself  avoiding  you  on  the 
street  because  you  carry  a  saw  and  sawhorse.  Now  about  the 
work.  I've  been  depending  a  good  deal  on  Bobby  Evans,  and 
have  let  our  garden  get  to  be  a  sight.  After  the  wood's  cut,  if 
you're  willing,  I'll  be  glad  to  have  you  clean  up  the  garden,  mow 
the  lawn,  white-wash  tr-  henhouse,  and  do  some  other  things. 
I'll  pay  what's  fair." 

"Why,  yes,  I  guess  I  can  promise  to  do  it  all,"  agreed  Billy, 
a  warm  look  in  his  eyes.  "It  fills  in  with  the  doctor's  prescrip- 
tion of  outdoor  exercise." 

It  took  nearly  three  weeks  for  Billy  to  finish  up  the  wood 
and  all  the  neglected  jobs  about  the  place,  even  though  Flor- 
ence helped  a  good  deal  in  the  garden  and  the  poultry  yards.  At 
first  Florence's  mother  had  glanced  at  them  a  little  doubtfully 
as  they  worked  together.  But  presently  her  face  cleared.  Billy 
had  been  a  clean  bov,  and  his  clear,  straight  gaze  showed  that  he 
was  a  clean  man.  The  wood  sawing  outfit  was  a  mere  detail  of 
the  outside.  After  that  she  let  matters  take  their  course.  Billy 
had  his  dinner  at  the  house  every  day. 

When  all  the  work  was  finished,  she  sought  to  pay  him. 
But  Billy  shook  his  head. 

"The  exercise  is  the  pay,"  he  smiled.     "People  'round  here 


WITH  SAW   AND   SAW-HORSE  1073 

jumped  at  conclusions  before  I  thought  to  explain,  and  then  I 
let  it  go,  as  an  experiment.  The  doctors  advised  golf,  or  buying 
a  yacht,  or  a  slow  trip  around  the  world.  But  they  didn't  appeal 
to  me,  alone.  Then  I  thought  of  a  saw  and  sawhorse,  and  look- 
ing over  fences  for  wood  to  be  cut.  That  would  give  me  exercise 
and  rambling  over  my  old  home  town.  But  it  has  brought  far 
more  than  that,  my  little  playfellow  of  long  ago  to  be  a  life  com- 
panion." 

"Then  you're  not  poor?"  wonderingly. 

"Not  in  that  sense.  Financially,  I  won  success,  a  very  great 
ruccess,  I  suppose.  But  I  have  found  money  a  mere  incident  of 
the  life  I  used  to  dream.  Florence  and  I  will  use  our  money  in 
trying  to  realize  something  of  that  dream  for  ourselves  and 
others." 
Waynsboro,  Vermont 


You  Who  Stand  at  Armageddon 

"And  he  gathered  them  together  into  a  place  called  in  the  Hebrew 
tongue  Armageddon.  And  the  seventh  angel  poured  out  his  vial  into  the 
air;  and  there  came  a  great  voice  out  of  the  temple  of  heaven,  from  the 
throne,  saying,  It  is  done." — Rev.  16:16,  17. 

You  who  stand  at  Armageddon, 

Stalwart  men  with  unsheathed  sword, 
You  are  they  whose  strength  and  valor, 

Wage  the  battles  of  the  Lord. 
You  are   they  who  bear  the   standard 

Which  your  sires  so  nobly  bore, 
Yours  the  aim  for  which  they  struggled, 

Liberty  for  evermore! 

You  who  stand  at  Armageddon, 

Battling  against  a  horde 
That  cares  not  for  life  nor  virtue, 

Mockers  of  a  righteous  Lord: 
You  are  they  who  wear  the  image, 

Of  the  mold  divine  within — 
Enemy  to  naught  but  Avarice! 

Foe  of  none  but  beastial  sin! 

You  who  fight  at  Armageddon, 

Naught  shall  stay  you,  you  shall  go 
Forward   on   your  march   to   vanquish 

Hell's  despotic  reign  of  woe. 
When  the  throne  of  blood  is  banished 

From  the  earth  to  come  no  more, 
When  shall  ring  the  voice  of  Freedom, 

Loud  and  clear  from  shore  to  shore, 
When  shall  wave  a  glorious  ensign, 

By  the  hand  of  Peace  unfurled, — 
We  shall  hail  you  great,  immortal 

Saviors  of  a  ransomed  world. 

Grace  Ingles  Frost. 


1 

x 

*"■■■< 

BRIGADIER-GENERAL  RICHARD  W.  YOUNG 


Utah's  Brigadier  Generals 


By  Junius  F.  Wells 


Since  the  entrance  of  our  Nation  into  the  great  World  War 
there  have  been  five  of  Utah's  soldiers  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
Brigadier-General:  Colonel  E.  A.  Wedgewood,  who  failed  on 
physical  examination  and  was  retired  from  the  service;  Colonel 
Frank  T.  Hines,  now  in  the  transport  service  on  the  Atlantic  sea- 
board and  a  recent  visitor  in  Europe  with  Secretary  of  War 
Baker;  Major  William  E.  Cole,  recently  promoted,  born  in  1374, 
in  Willard,  Utah,  and  a  graduate  of  West  Point,  in  1898;  Colonel 
Richard  W.  Young,  and  Colonel  Briant  H.  Wells. 

It  is  with  feelings  of  particular  pride  that  we  congratulate 
these  officers,  especially  the  latter  two,  whose  names  are  so  fa- 
miliar and  whose  records  of  military  service  in  the  State  and 
Nation  have  reflected  so  much  honor  upon  that  part  of  our  peo- 
ple who  are  especially  interested  in  the  Era. 

The  service  record  of  General  Young  has  been  briefly  stated 
in  the  following  summary  prepared  by  his  son,  State  Senator 
R.  W.  Young,  Jr.,  and  exhibits  a  wonderfully  active  life  in  the 
military  and  civil  offices  where  he  has  served.  Apart  from  this, 
his  career  has  been  most  honorable  and  useful  as  a  worker  in 
the  Y.  M.  M.  I.  A.,  and  as  President  of  the  Ensign  stake  of  Zion, 
and  as  a  writer  for  the  local  newspapers  and  periodicals: 

Richard  Whitehead  Young 

Born  Salt  Lake  City,  April  19,  1858;  son  of  Joseph  Angel 
and  Margaret  Whitehead  Young;  U.  of  U.  1874-7;  graduated 
U.  S.  Military  Academy  1882;  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Law,  Co- 
lumbia University  1884;  Second  Lieutenant  in  the  Fifth  U.  S. 
Artillery  1882-9;  Captain  Acting  Judge  Advocate  in  the  United 
States  Army  on  General  Hancock's  Staff  1884-6;  resigned  from 
army  1889;  Brigadier  General  Utah  National  Guard  1894.  Cap- 
tain and  Major  commanding  Utah  Light  Artillery,  Spanish 
American  War  and  Philippine  Insurrection  1898-9;  awarded 
medal  of  honor  for  distinguished  services  and  later  breveted  as 
Lieutenant-Colonel,  Colonel  and  Brigadier  General;  admitted 
to  bar  in  New  York  1884;  in  law  practice  Salt  Lake  City  since 
1889;  member  Salt  Lake  City  Council  1890-1;  Board  of  Educa- 
tion 1890-4,  1898 ;  member  of  Board  of  Visitors,  West  Point,  by 
presidential  appointment  1902;   Supreme  Provost  Judge,  Asso- 


1076  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

ciate  Justice  and  President  of  the  Criminal  Branch  of  the  Su- 
preme Court  of  the  Philippine  Islands,  author  of  the  Criminal 
Code  for  the  Philippine  Islands;  twice  Democratic  candidate 
for  the  Supreme  Court,  State  of  Utah;  Regent  University  of 
Utah,  1905-17;  trustee  Brigham  Young  University  and  Brig- 
ham  Young  College;  President  International  Army  Congress, 
1912-14;  Colonel  145th  Field  Artillery,  U.  S.  Army,  stationed 
at  Camp  Kearny;  appointed  to  the  Efficiency  Board  at  Ft.  Sill. 
Promoted  to  Brigadier  General,  April  12,  1918,  commanding 
65th  Brigade,  40th  Division,  American  Expeditionary  Forces, 
now  in  France.  His  last  visit  to  Salt  Lake  City  terminated 
July  23,  1918. 

Briant  Harris  Wells 

The  youngest  son  of  Daniel  H.  Wells  and  Martha  Harris 
was  born  in  Salt  Lake  City  in  the  old  homestead  where  Zion's 
Savings  Bank  now  stands,  on  the  5th  of  December,  1872.  He 
had  his  schooling  in  the  district  ward  schools  and  at  the  Deseret 
University,  until  he  eecured  the  appointment  as  a  cadet  to  West 
Point  Military  Academy,  in  1889. 

It  happened  that  I  accompanied  him  East  and  put  him  in 
Colonel  Braden's  preparatory  school  at  Cornwall-on-the-Hudson 
where  he  was  coached  for  two  months  before  coming  up  for 
the  entrance  examination  at  West  Point.  I  recall  saying  to 
Colonel  Bra  den: 

This  boy  is  sound  as  the  heart  of  an  oak  physically,  and  we  want  you- 
to  cram  his  head  full  of  the  particular  knowledge  that  will  insure  his  pass- 
ing the  examination  and  getting  into  West  Point.  If  he  gets  in,  I  have  no 
doubt  of  his  future.  I  will  tell  you  why:  When  he  was  little,  he  played 
marbles,  and  he  knew  how.  He  held  his  taw  so  as  to  put  the  strength  of 
his  wrist  as  well  as  his  thumb  back  of  it.  He  knuckled  down  fair,  and 
didn't  fudge.  He  usually  started  out  in  the  morning  with  six,  and  came 
home  at  night  with  a  hat  full. 

I  told  "Bry"  when  he  got  in  at  West  Point  and  was  making 
good  with  his  studies  that  he  should  remember  some  things  that 
his  father  would  want  him  always  to  regard — that  he  had  en- 
tered upon  his  life's  mission  and  work — to  stick  to  it  and  make 
the  most  of  it.  That  he  should  first  of  all  be  true  to  Briant  H. 
Wells — look  him  in  the  eyes  occasionally,  and  take  account;  that 
he  should  always  be  true  to  the  Wells  family,  and  never  suppose, 
even  if  he  became  commander-in-chief  of  the  Nation's  armie", 
that  he  would  be  bigger  or  greater  than  the  family — that  no 
member  of  it  ever  would  be,  and  none  of  Daniel  H.  Wells'  de- 
scendants would  ever  rob  him  of  the  peculiar  distinction  that 
fate  had  given  him  as  -the  head  of  his  lineage,  a  patriarch  and 
savior  of  his  race  and  kindred.  Then  I  told  him  that  it  was  a 
mighty  good  thing  to  be  an  official  citizen  of  the  United  States, 


BRIGADIER-GENERAL  BRIANT  H.  WELLS 


1078  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

a  representative  for  life  of  our  Nation;  to  be  proud  of  it,  and 
true  to  it,  and  to  give  the  best  service  to  it  that  he  was  capable 
of,  as  long  as  he  should  live. 

It  is  with  infinite  pride  and  pleasure  that  I  now  record  my 
belief  that  he  has  observed  these  admonitions  all  the  way 
through,  and  because  of  it  has  come  to  be  as  true  a  man  and 
soldier  as  there  is  in  all  the  American  Army,  and  is  now  occu- 
pying a  post  of  great  honor  and  responsibility  at  the  front,  with 
the  armies  of  the  Allies  in  France. 

General  Wells  graduated  as  second  lieutenant  from  West 
Point,  in  1894,  and  was  assigned  to  the  Second  Infantry,  sta- 
tioned at  Omaha,  Nebraska.  He  served  in  that  regiment  and  in 
the  Eighteenth  Infantry  and  later  in  the  Twenty-ninth,  at  sev- 
eral military  posts  in  various  parts  of  the  country.  For  a  time 
he  was  adjutant  at  Fort  Douglas.  In  the  Spanish  War  he  went 
to  Cuba,  and  was  wounded  in  the  battle  of  San  Juan  Hill,  and 
furloughed  home.  He  was  instructor  of  the  Utah  National 
Guard  before  he  went  to  the  Philippines.  Three  times  his  duty 
called  him  there,  and  he  also  served  at  Panama.  He  was  rapid- 
ly promoted  in  the  earlier  period,  to  First  Lieutenant,  1898,  and 
gaining  his  Captaincy  in  seven  years  from  graduation  at  West 
Point.  At  the  establishment  of  the  officers'  training  camp,  in 
1916,  at  Plattsburg,  N.  Y.,  he  was  promoted  to  Major  and  given 
command  of  half  the  regiment  there.  From  there  he  went  to 
the  Mexican  border  as  Chief  of  Staff,  with  General  Plummer, 
and  was  thence  ordered  to  Washington  as  a  member  of  the  Gen- 
eral Staff.  When  war  was  declared,  and  the  new  army  was  be- 
ing formed,  he  was  promoted  to  Colonel,  and  given  command  of 
the  138th  Infantry,  at  Camp  Lee,  Petersburg,  Virginia,  where  he 
remained  until  January,  1918. 

Upon  the  return  from  France  of  General  Bliss,  then  Chief 
of  the  General  Staff,  Colonel  Wells  was  called  to  Washington 
and  informed  by  General  Bliss  of  the  latter's  appointment  as 
the  American  member  of  the  Supreme  War  Council  of  the  Al- 
lies. General  Bliss  told  him  he  was  detached  from  his  regiment, 
and  was  to  accompany  him  to  France  upon  his  return,  for  ser- 
vice at  the  Supreme  Council.  This  has  been  since  January  and 
is  his  present  general  assignment. 

Since  the  elevation  of  General  Foch  to  the  supreme  com- 
mand as  Generalissimo  of  all  the  armies  of  the  Allies,  Colonel 
Wells  has  been  the  liaison-officer,  at  his  headquarters,  repre- 
senting General  Bliss.  The  nature  of  this  assignment  is  care- 
fully stated  in  the  following  clipping  from  the  New  York  Times, 
written  by  Richard  Barry: 

In  the  War  College  at  Washington  is  a  little  book  marked  "Private  and 
Confidential."    On  the  first  page  appears  the  line,  "Instructions  for  Liaison 


UTAH'S  BRIGADIER  GENERALS  1079 

Officers."  It  never  leaves  the  confines  of  the  college,  where  officers  prepar- 
ing for  staff  duty  are  expected  to  master  its  contents.  I  was  permitted  to  see 
it,  but  not  to  reproduce  the  minutiae  of  its  contents,  which  might  be  of  dis- 
tinct value  to  the  enemy. 

From  Colonel  Murray  of  the  War  College,  instructor  in  liaison  work; 
from  Colonel  Cordier,  the  American  Liaison  Officer  attached  to  the  Gen- 
eral Staff  at  the  War  Department,  and  from  other  sources  was  obtained  a 
general  view  of  the  function  of  the  liaison  officer — facts  which  it  is  proper 
to  publish  at  this  time  and  which  seem  particularly  interesting  in  view  of 
the  international  character  of  the  present  military  organization. 

The  case,  it  appears,  is  far  different  from  that  imagined  by  the  lady 
in  the  lounge  of  the  Savoy,  who,  observing  a  covey  of  English,  French,  and 
Belgian  officers  flocking  about  a  group  of  social  butterflies,  observed:  "Ah! 
What  a  charming  detail  it  is  to  be  a  liaison  officer!"  Rather,  from  what 
the  writer  of  this  article  can  gather  in  a  comparatively  brief  survey,  the 
liaison  officer  is  next  to  the  actual  commander  in  the  field,  the  most  im- 
portant brain  serving  the  cause.  And  there  are  more  of  him  in  all  branches 
of  the  service,  on  all  fronts,  in  all  camps,  and  in  all  capitals  than  could  be 
measured  of  any  other  special  variety.  His  fast  service  forms  a  network 
of  intercommunication  and  of  extracommunication  which  ties  not  only  our 
army,  but  all  the  armies,  together  in  a  fine  mesh  of  exact  and  instant 
knowledge. 

Instinctively  one  might  think  of  a  liaison  officer  as  being  the  link  of 
communication  between  two  allied  armies,  but  while  that  is  one  of  his 
functions,  it  is  not  his  most  important.  His  most  important  function  is  his 
supervision  over  and  responsibikty  for  the  various  methods  and  systems  of 
communication  existing  within  an  army.  He  is  a  supertelephone  inspector, 
a  super-wireless  inspector,  the  overlord  of  the  carrier  pigeons,  the  boss  of 
the  runners,  the  generalissimo  of  the  motor  cycle  corps,  the  boss  of  the 
ground  telephone,  the  last  court  of  appeal  for  the  signal  corps,  and  in  this 
latter  activity  he  becomes  automatically  the  all  but  final  seat  of  responsi- 
bility for  the  airplane  service  in  all  activities  except  those  pertaining  to 
actual  combat. 

So  much  for  the  liaison  officer  responsible  for  intercommunication  with- 
in an  army.    He  has  other  functions,  less  dangerous,  but  no  less  responsible. 

t       £       ♦       ♦ 

The  obvious  nature  of  his  duties  is  that  of  linking  up  the  various 
armies,  French  with  American,  American  with  French,  British  with  French 
and  with  American,  Italian  with  French,  with  British,  and  with  American, 
etc. 

For  instance,  when  Marshal  Foch  wishes  to  communicate  with  General 
Pershing  (that  is,  for  the  run  of  the  day's  work,  though  not  for  a  supreme 
war  council,  of  course)  he  does  not  speak  to  Pershing  directly  nor  send 
word  to  him  directly.  Instead,  he  communicates  with  the  American  liaison 
officer  attached  to  his  headquarters.  The  functions  of  this  officer  become 
much  more  than  those  of  a  messenger  (he  is  of  regimental  or  brigade  rank), 
for  the  Generalissimo  consults  with  him  exactly  as  if  he  were  the  American 
commander  in  person.  If  he  finally  has  an  order  to  give  he  gives  it  to  the 
liaison  officer,  who  in  turn  communicates  it  to  his  chief.  In  a  peculiar  and 
in  a  militarily  limited  sense  the  liaison  officers  are  the  ambassadors  of  their 
immediate  commanders.  Foch  has  one  at  Pershing's  headquarters,  as  he  has 
one  at  Haig's  and  one  at  Diaz's,  and  vice  versa.  Needless  to  say,  officers 
chosen  for  this  duty  are  required  to  have  wide  knowledge  and  experience, 
together  with  discretion  and  authority  fitting  them  for  general  rank. 

That  Colonel  Wells  has  proved  his  ability  and  worthiness  in 
this  position   of  high  honor,  responsibility,   and  trust,   is   evi- 


1080  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

denced  by  the  fact  that  in  August  he  was  promoted  to  Briga- 
dier General,  and  was  continued  at  General  Foch's  headquarters, 
the  representative  of  General  Bliss,  of  the  Supreme  War  Coun- 
cil, which  determines  the  strategy  of  the  war,  and  provides  the 
armies  of  execution. 

Since  the  above  was  written  General  Wells  has  been  ap- 
pointed Chief  of  Staff  of  the  Fifth  Army  Corps,  182,000  men, 
commanded  by  Major-General  Bundy — a  part  of  the  First  Field 
army  under  General  Pershing,  now  in  action  in  the  Lorraine 
sector. 

The  accompanying  portraits  of  Generals  Young  and  Wells 
were  taken  recently,  in  their  colonel's  uniforms,  before  they 
were  made  Brigadier  Generals. 


Teachers'  Training  Classes 


The  first  two  lessons  provided  for  the  teachers'  training 
classes  of  the  auxiliary  organizations  throughout  the  Church 
that  are  to  be  established  in  each  ward  on  some  convenient  day 
or  evening,  follow. 

These  classes  are  designed  to  embrace  the  teachers  of  all 
the  auxiliary  organizations  of  the  Church.  The  lesson  to  come 
in  book  fonn,  will  cover  one  year's  work  on  the  art  of  teaching, 
at  the  rate  of  two  lessons  per  month. 

The  first  lessons  are  presented  in  the  Era  with  the  purpose 
of  interesting  the  teachers  and  officers  of  the  Y.  M.  M.  I.  A.  in 
these  auxiliary  training  classes,  in  their  particular  wards,  when 
organized,  and  they  are  urged  to  take  an  active  interest  in  see- 
ing that  such  classes  are  organized  in  their  wards. 

It  is  designed  by  the  joint  General  Boards  to  issue,  shortly, 
a  manual  now  nearly  completed,  containing  all  the  lessons  set- 
ting forth  the  key  thoughts  of  the  course,  the  subject  matter,  and 
the  methods  to  be  adopted  in  teaching.  Such  teacher's  training 
classes  are  sorely  needed,  and  will  be  of  incalculable  value  to 
all  who  have  to  teach  young  people  in  the  auxiliary  organiza- 
tions of  the  Church.  We  trust  that  no  Young  Men's  Mutual 
Improvement  Association  teacher  will  miss  the  opportunity  of 
attending  these  classes;  and  further,  that  the  officers  will  urge 
the  organization  of  such  classes  in  their  wards,  in  connection 
with  the  Sunday  School,  and  other  auxiliaries.  The  general 
reader  will  also  be  interested  in  the  scheme,  and  in  the  good 
reading  of  the  introduction  and  first  two  lessons  that  follow: 


TEACHERS'  TRAINING  CLASSES  1081 

A  Word  About  Our  Work 

True  teaching  is  the  finest  of  the  fine  arts.  It  deals  with  the  rarest  of 
materials— the  human  mind  and  soul.  It  aims  at  the  highest  of  results— 
the  perfecting  of  the  mental  and  spiritual  powers  of  man.  Its  effects  are 
immeasurable  and  eternal. 

Other  arts  reflect  life;  teaching  develops  life  itself.  Other  arts  are 
wonderful  in  their  scope  and  influence;  but  they  can  hardly  be  so  pro- 
foundly vital,  nor  so  lasting  in  their  consequences.  The  painter  touches  the 
canva9  with  colors,  and  produces  an  inspiring  picture;  but  the  colors  fade 
with  the  years,  and  the  picture  finally  must  pass  away.  The  sculptor  chips 
with  deft  fingers  the  faultless  marble  and  makes  it  all  but  speak  his 
thoughts;  but  the  stone  in  time  will  crumble  and  the  image  perish.  The 
musician  pours  out  his  heart  in  melody  that  thrills  the  listener;  but  the 
song  dies  away  with  the  echoes  into  a  sweet  memory. 

Not  so  with  the  teacher.  He  works  neither  with  color,  nor  marble,  nor 
yet  with  tones;  but  with  living  beings.  He  plays  upon  the  harp-strings  of 
the  human  heart  and  sets  its  feelings  vibrating  either  in  painful  discord,  or 
with  pleasing  harmony.  He  cultivates  the  growing  mind,  training  it  to 
think  clearly  and  keenly.  He  molds  the  plastic  soul  and  leaves  his  im- 
print for  good  or  ill  on  his  pupils'  lives  forever. 

This  last  mentioned  phase  of  teaching  is  of  especial  concern  to  the 
teachers  of  the  gospel.  It  is  their  work  to  shape  and  inspire  the  soul  of  the 
divine  spirit  within  the  learner.  Their  business  is  to  lead  him  to  express 
himself.  Their  duty  is  to  guide  the  faltering  footsteps  of  the  human  being 
into  "the  paths  of  righteousness  for  His  name's  sake;"  and  above  all,  to 
create  in  his  heart  such  a  living  love  of  truth  as  will  make  him  constantly 
strive  to  radiate  it  through  sensible,  spiritual  service  for  the  uplift  of 
humanity. 

This  was  the  work  of  Christ,  the  Master  Teacher.  His  life  was  spent 
as  a  divine  artist,  striving  to  make  men  perfect  as  our  Father  in  heaven 
is  perfect.  The  success  of  his  teaching  is  to  be  measured  only  by  the 
boundless  scope  of  its  influence,  which  has  more  than  encompassed  the 
earth  and  echoed  down  the  centuries  in  the  lives  of  the  billions  of  souls 
that  have  been  renewed  and  strengthened  and  perfected  by  the  magic 
power  of  his  words  and  his  own  perfect  life. 

If  any  teacher  would  grow  in  skill  to  interpret  and  vitalize  the  princi- 
ples of  the  gospel,  he  must  follow  in  the  footsteps  of  the  Master.  To 
know  his  methods  thoroughly  is  to  understand  clearly  all  of  the  funda- 
mental principles  of  progressive  pedagogy.  This  being  true,  we  might  here 
dismiss  our  subject  with  this  divine  injunction  from  the  Savior  himself: 
"I  am  the  light  and  life.    Follow  me." 

But  this  is  hardly  sufficient  for  our  present  purpose.  Even  the  clear 
words  and  the  plain  practices  of  the  Master  must  be  interpreted  and  trans- 
lated though  practical  illustrations  into  the  life  of  today,  in  order  that 
we  may  appreciate  their  present  significance  and  give  them  living  applica- 
tion in  our  every  day  work. 

For  this  reason  we  purpose  first  of  all,  to  make  a  brief  survey  of  the 
methods  of  the  Master  as  a  foundational  basis  for  the  course;  and  follow- 
ing this  to  develop  in  somewhat  systematic  order  certain  fundamental 
principles  that  are  directly  or  indirectly  connected  with  the  essentials  of 
true  teaching  as  revealed  in  His  work. 

Lesson  1.    The  Methods  of  the  Master 

Much  of  the  success  of  the  Savior  as  a  teacher  was  due  to  his  divine 
personality.     He  was  a  born  leader  of  men.     As  the  Son  of  God,  he  pos- 


1082  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

sessed  the  attributes  of  divinity,  which  gave  his  words  an  inherent  im- 
pressiveness  and  made  men  listen  to  them  with  respect.  He  spoke  "as  one 
having  authority,  and  not  as  the  Scribes." 

But  this  was  not  all.  Even  Divinity  itself  must  obey  fundamental  laws 
to  succeed  in  any  calling  The  teaching  work  of  the  Savior  is  no  excep- 
tion to  the  rule.  It  was  based  on  the  same  foundation  stones  on  which  all 
teaching  must  be  founded  to  be  successful. 

In  studying  the  elements  that  made  the  work  of  the  T.iasier  so  remark- 
ably effective,  five  things  at  least  stand  out  clearly: 

1.  He  had  a  love  for  God  and  God's  children. 

2.  He  had  a  burning  belief  in  his  own  mission  to  serve  and  to  save 
mankind. 

3.  He  had  a  clear  and  sympathetic  understanding  of  the  inner  hearts 
of  humankind. 

4.  He  had  so  keen  a  sense  of  relative  values  that  he  could  readily 
separate  the  chaff  from  the  wheat  of  religion. 

5.  He  demonstrated  daily  his  faith  by  living  it  consistently  and  cour- 
ageously. 

With  these  essential  qualities  what  other  could  he  be  than  a  divinely 
successful  Teacher? 

Love  of  God's  work  and  of  the  children  of  God  is  the  first  requisite  to 
success  in  this  labor  of  love.  Otherwise,  though  one  speaks  "with  the 
tongue  of  men  and  of  angels,"  one  is  but  "sounding  brass  and  tinkling 
cymbal."  No  message  can  ring  true  unless  it  comes  from  a  heart  that 
thrills  with  truth.  Children  are  quick  to  detect  the  false  notes  of  insin- 
cerity. They  are  likewise  keen  to  respond  to  genuine  love  and  sympathy. 
And  older  people  are  but  children  grown.  To  be  truly  helpful  to  others, 
we  must  be  truly  interested  in  their  welfare. 

To  love  sincerely  the  children  of  God  is  to  love  God  Himself.  In  the 
sweet  story  of  "Abou  Ben  Adhem,"  is  an  instance  that  points  this  thought. 
When  that  good  man  awoke  and  found  in  his  room  an  angel  writing  in  a 
book  of  gold  the  names  of  those  that  loved  the  Lord,  he  asked: 

"And  is  mine  one?" 

"Nay,  not  so,"  replied  the  angel. 

Abou  spake  more  low;  but  cherrily  still, 

And  said,  "I  pray  thee,  then,  write  me  as 

One  who  loves  his  fellowmen." 

The  angel  wrote  and  vanished. 

The  next  night  it  came  again,  with  great  awakening  light, 

And  showed  the  names  of  those  whom  love  of  God  had  blest 

And  lo:  Ben  Adhem's  name  led  all  the  rest." 

If  one  thing  more  than  another  marks  the  life  of  the  Savior,  it  is  his 
intense  yet  sane  love  for  his  fellow-men.  In  every  act  of  his  life,  he  reveals 
his  great-hearted  solicitude  for  them.  Particularly  towards  the  weak  and 
lowly  were  his  sympathies  shown  He  bore  their  burdens,  shared  their 
sorrows,  healed  them  of  sickness,  forgave  them  of  their  sins;  and  all  the 
while,  with  loving  words  of  kindness,  He  taught  them  most  impressively 
the  way  of  life  and  salvation.  It  is  such  a  spirit  as  this  that  makes  the 
true  teacher.  To  have  any  profound  influence  on  those  we  would  lead 
to  higher  levels,  we  must  be  one  with  them  in  heart  and  soul;  we  must 
love  all  of  God's  children. 

A  burning  belief  in  the  gospel  of  Christ  is  the  second  essential  that 
makes  for  success  in  our  work.  Lacking  such  enthusiasm  our  teaching 
can  hardly  carry  over  convincingly  into  the  hearts  of  our  pupils.  Every 
lesson  in  some  measure  must  reflect  the  spirit  of  the  day  of  Pentecost. 


TEACHERS'  TRAINING  CLASSES  1083 

Religion  is  not  so  much  a  matter  of  fact  as  of  feeling.  It  cannot  be 
measured  by  any  coldly  intellectual  process.  There  is  in  it  "a  light  which 
never  was  on  land  or  sea."  This  light  of  the  Spirit  of  the  Holy  Ghost 
warms  and  quickens  our  inner  souls,  and  opens  our  hearts  for  God's 
Spirit  to  enter.  Many  of  these  sweetest  emotions  of  life  cannot  be  ex- 
plained in  words;  they  are  something  like  the  tender  afterglow  of  sunset— 
too  delicate  for  even  an  artist's  touch  to  express.  Such  is  the  silent  satis- 
faction  that  follows  sincere  prayer,  or  the  comfort  that  comes  when  one 
does  a  deed  of  loving  kindness. 

The  testimony  of  the  gospel  enters  our  hearts  in  much  the  same  quiet 
way.  It  is  a  spiritual  assurance  that  satisfies  the  individual  soul.  That 
testimony  can  be  radiated  to  others  not  through  mere  words,  but  through 
a  medium  of  spiritual  communication.  This  truth  is  suggested  in  the 
words  of  the  Savior  where  He  said,  "My  sheep  know  my  voice,  and  a 
stranger's  they  will  not  follow." 

With  a  living  testimony  of  truth  in  his  soul,  the  teacher,  like  a  magnet, 
radiates  a  silent  yet  powerful  influence  into  the  souls  of  all  who  come  in 
contact  with  his  teachings.     They  are  infused  with  the  spirit  he  carries. 

Ability  to  separate  the  chaff  from  the  wheat  of  truth  is  another  essential 
of  success  in  teething.  The  Master  possessed  the  power  to  a  remarkable 
degree.  He  wasted  no  time  on  the  chaff  of  religion.  His  wrath  often 
broke  into  righteous  indignation  over  this  sort  of  thing.  He  was  constantly 
rebuking  the  Pharisees  for  their  littleness — their  excessive  attention  to 
empty  formalities.  "Woe  unto  you  Pharisees!"  He  said  on  one  occasion, 
"for  ye  tithe  mint  and  rue  and  all  manner  of  herbs  and  pass  over  judgment 
and  the  love  of  God."  At  another  time  He  rebuked  this  tendency  as  one  of 
"straining  at  gnats  and  swallowing  camels." 

Some  attention  to  the  outward  forms  of  religion  is  right  and  proper. 
One  cannot  raise  wheat  without  raising  chaff.  At  the  same  time  wheat 
is  not  raised  for  the  chaff.  Order  and  system  in  any  organization  call  for 
certain  respectful  ceremonies;  but  the  ceremony  is  not  the  main  thing. 
If  is  the  life-giving  elements  of  religion  that  mean  most  in  our  lives. 

Last,  but  by  no  means  least,  He  demonstrated  His  faith  by  His  works. 
Herein  lies  the  cruical  test  of  efficiency  in  any  teacher's  preparation  to 
teach  the  gospel.  How  far  do  you  believe  the  gospel's  true?  Just  so  far 
as  you  reflect  the  spirit  of  the  gospel  in  your  daily  life.  "Whosoever  will 
come  after  me,  let  him  deny  himself,  and  take  up  his  cross,  and  follow 
me,"  are  the  words  of  the  Master  on  this  point. 

Are  you  willing  to  serve,  to  sacrifice  the  worldly  things  to  do  the  work 
of  the  Master?  Will  ye  take  cheerfully  the  world's  buffets  and  scorns  for 
the  sake  of  truth? 

It  takes  spiritual  courage  and  willingness  to  sacrifice  in  order  to  go 
"over  the  top"  in  the  service  of  the  Master.  Are  you  ready  to  respond 
to  his  command,  "Follow  me?"  If  you  are,  you  are  ready  to  become  a 
living  teacher  of  the  living  truth. 

Lesson  Study 

1.  Justify  the  assertion:     True  teaching  is  the  finest  of  the  fine  arts. 

2.  What  phase  of  teaching  belongs  particularly  to  the  gospel  teacher? 

3.  What  was  the  main  guiding  thought  in  the  life  of  the  Master? 

4.  Why  is  a  study  of  his  methods  of  vital  value  in  our  work? 

5.  On  what  essential  principles  of  true  pedagogy  was  the  work  of 
Jesus  as  a  teacher  based?     Give  five  of  the  most  important. 

6.  Give  an  instance  from  the  life  of  Christ  that  showed  clearly  his 
love  of  humanity  and  for  God. 


1084  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

7.  Give  also  an  instance  from  the  life  of  Christ  that  shows  that  he 
was  a  practical  psychologist — with  ability  to  read  the  mind  and  hearts  of 
men. 

8.  Show  by  illustration  his  skill  to  separate  the  wheat  from  the  chaff 
of    religion. 

9.  Show  by  illustration  the  courage  and  the  consistency  of  the  Master 
in  living  his  own  teachings. 

Lesson  2.     The  First  Principle  of  Gospel  Pedagogy 

"For  whosoever  would  save  his  life  shall  lose  it;  but  whosoever  shall 
lose  his  life  for  my  sake  and  the  gospel's  the  same  shall  save  it."  (Mark 
8:35.) 

This  divine  paradox  expresses,  in  one  form,  the  central  principle  of  the 
Master's  educational  doctrine.  Translated  in  terms  of  the  progressive 
pedagogy  of  today,  it  means  merely  this ;  To  perfect  our  powers,  we  must 
exercise  them  in  true  service  for  others.  Spiritual  development,  in  other 
words,  can  come  only  through  spiritualized  self-expression. 

Without  such  expression  there  can  be  no  gospel  education.  The  human 
being  develops  mentally  and  spiritually  only  as  he  is  given  opportunity 
to  transform  the  truth  he  feels  into  words  of  truth  and  right  action.  No 
thought  is  ever  really  impressed  until  it  has  been  adequately  expressed. 

This  great  principle  of  pedagogy  is  exemplified  in  all  of  the  teachings 
of  the  Master.  He  was  the  first  champion,  indeed,  of  the  idea  of  education 
through  expression.  Even  before  the  foundations  of  the  world  were  laid,  so 
we  are  told  in  Holy  Writ,  He  led  the  hosts  of  heaven  in  the  struggle  to 
establish  this  basic  principle  of  growth  and  salvation.  Christ  contended 
that  it  was  the  divine  right  of  man  to  express  himself — that  he  should  be 
given  his  free  agency — the  opportunity  to  develop  his  own  powers  through 
freedom  of  thought  and  action. 

His  will  prevailed;  but  his  opponents  have  never  ceased  to  battle  for 
their  unholy  cause.  In  a  thousand  subtle  ways  they  have  kept  up  the 
effort  to  cancel  and  overcome  the  rights  of  liberty  divinely  won  for  man. 

Even  in  our  systems  of  educations  their  autocratic  hand  is  frequently 
shown.  As  a  result  our  schools  are  often  institutions  of  repression  and 
suppression  rather  than  of  expression.  Too  many  teachers  dominate  rather 
than  direct  the  minds  of  their  pupils.  Children  constantly  being  driven, 
not  led  to  learn.  This  was  not  the  method  of  the  Master.  His  teaching 
was  ever  characterized  by  the  spirit  of  true  democracy.  He  was  always  one 
with  his  pupils.  He  did  not  force  the  minds  of  those  that  came  to  be 
taught  of  him,  but  he  faced  them  rather  towards  the  truth  he  would  im- 
press, and  left  them  free  to  work  out  the  problems  in  their  own  way.  By 
stimulating  precep:  and  shining  example,  he  taught  them  the  eternal 
principles  of  the  gospel,  but  he  let  them  prove  the  wisdom  of  his  words 
and   of  his  ways  by  their  own  Spiritual  self-expression. 

Without  such  expression  there  can  be  no  growth.  The  individual,  like 
the  tree,  grows  only  as  it  expresses  itself.  Education  implies  expression. 
The  word  comes  from  the  old  Latin  term  educo,  which  means  to  lead.  Edu- 
cation means  to  lead  out,  not  to  crush  out  the  child's  natural  tendencies  to 
think  and  act  for  himself.  Gospel  education  means  t*>  open  the  way  for 
the  pupil  to  learn  the  truths  of  the  gospel  by  expressing  them  In  both  word 
and  deed — by  translating  them  into  terms  of  true  social  service. 

The  most,  the  best,  that  any  teacher  can  do  for  the  learner  is  to  clear 
the  proper  channels  of  expression  and  direct  the  thoughts  and  feelings  of 
the  pupils  to  flow  therein.  The  following  parable,  used  in  another  connec- 
tion by  the  author,  serves  also  well  here  to  make  this  point  plain: 

In  a  certain  place  there  was  once  a  little  spring  which  bubbled  forth  in 
a  mountain  dell  and  tried  to  make  its  way  into  the  valley  that  lay  below. 
But   the   waters   were   checked   with   sticks   and   stones   and   weeds   and   the 


TEACHERS-  TRAINING  CLASSES  1085 

tracks  of  animals,  and  the  stream  turned  into  a  bog.  Its  waters  evaporated 
or  sank  into  the  ground.  A  rancher,  whose  home  was  not  far  from  the 
spring,  came  one  day  with  his  spade  and  dug  a  channel  through  the  bog 
and  led  the  waters  out.  They  danced  down  the  canyon  till  they  came  to 
his  cabin.  For  many  years  he  used  the  stream  for  himself  and  his  cattle. 
Then  came  the  people  of  the  village.  They  wished  to  establish  a  system  of 
water  works  so  they  purchased  the  spring  from  the  rancher  and  laid  pipes 
to  it.  Today  that  little  spring  is  helping  to  supply  a  whole  community 
with  water. 

What  increased  the  power  of  the  spring  to  do  good?  Simply  one 
thing:  it  was  given  a  channel  through  which  it  might  express  itself?  The 
more  perfect  the  channel  was  made  the  more  beneficent  the  work  of  the 
spring.     In  being  given  an  opportunity  to  serve  others  it  found  itself. 

The  central  principle  of  all  teaching  is  to  be  found  in  this  story  of  the 
mountain  spring.  Every  child,  every  human  being,  may  be  likened  unto 
a  living  spring,  which  is  trying  to  express  itself — struggling  to  reach  the 
valley  of  service.  But  because  of  obstacles  it  often  fails  to  get  there. 
Sometimes  it  is  inhibited  by  bad  habits  or  checked  and  turned  by  weeds 
of  sin.     Its  energies  are  dissipated  and  its  life-giving  waters  arrested. 

If  we  fail  to  use  our  spiritual  gifts,  we  lose  them.  To  keep  these  best 
things  of  life  we  must  give  them  away.  A  lamp  has  light  only  when  it  is 
radiating  light.  Our  lives,  likewise,  may  be  kept  bright  only  as  we  keep  the 
gospel  light  burning  within  us.    To  save  ourselves,  we  must  give  ourselves. 

This  key-thought  of  our  lesson  is  most  impressively  taught  by  the 
Master  in  his  parable  of  the  talen  s.  In  that  story,  the  master,  leaving  his 
home  for  a  time,  gave  to  one  servant  five  talents,  to  another  two,  and  to 
another  servant  one.  After  many  days  the  lord  returned.  The  servant  who 
had  been  given  five  talents  returned  to  his  master  ten;  he  that  had  two 
talents,  returned  four,  but  he  that  had  received  only  one  talent  returned 
only  one,  making  excuse  that  because  he  feared  to  lose  his  talent,  he  hid 
it  in  the  earth. 

And  the  master  rebuked  him  as  being  a  slothful  servant.  And  he  took 
from  him  his  one  talent  to  give  to  the  servant  who  had  ten,  saying:  "To 
him  that  hath  shall  be  given,  and  from  him  that  hath  not  shall  be  taken 
away,  even  that  which  he  hath." 

The  great  central  principle  of  education  lies  in  the  heart  of  this  parable. 
Our  business  as  teachers  of  the  gospel  is  to  find  and  to  follow  it  in  our 
work. 

Lesson  Outline 

1.  State  in  your  own  words  the  first  principle  of  gospel  pedagogy  as 
developed  in  this  discussion. 

2.  What  is  the  true  meaning  of  education? 

3.  Show  by  illustration,  how  the  Savior  was  a  true  teacher. 

4.  In  what  ways  have  you  observed  teachers  at  times  dominate  rather 
than  direct  the  minds  of  their  pupils  towards  truth? 

5.  In  what  way  alone  can  the  pupil's  powers  be  developed? 

6.  What  principle  of  pedagogy  is  in  the  parable  of  the  mountain 
spring? 

7.  What  lesson  of  especial  value  to  the  teacher  is  to  be  found  in  the 
parable  of  talents? 

8.  Point  out  the  application  of  the  great  principle  of  education  you 
have  gained  from  this  lesson  to  the  special  gospel  work  in  which  you  are 
engaged. 

9.  Why  is  it  of  special  importance  today  that  our  teaching  reflect  the 
great  democratic  principle  of  education  for  which  the  Savior  stood? 


What  is  Success? 


In  the  very  interesting  Y.  M.  I.  A.  text  book  for  the  study  of 
the  Junior  classes  this  year,  "Lessons  on  Success"  are  presented 
in  the  general  series  on  "The  Development  of  Character."  Here 
are  four  good  sentiments  on  the  subject  that  the  class  teacher 
as  well  as  the  general  reader  will  enjoy.  They  are  the  expres- 
sions of  four  great  teachers  given  the  Improvment  Era  over 
their  own  signatures: 

Spiritual  success  comes  from  serving  God  in  all  things; 
being  just,  true  and  charitable  to  all  men.  Material  success 
comes  from  industry,  frugality  and  careful,  wise  saving  and  in- 
vesment    out     of     every    re- 


source, every   day.      At  least      j/r. 


one-tenth     of     every     dollar  ^(rg4U>t^  /%  d^WfOdd? 
must  be  saved  and  safely  in-  '    ^   \7  A 

vested;  more  is  better. 

I  used  to  say  that  "success  in  life  means  doing  what  you 
want  to  do  and  being  paid  for  it."  Putting  this  in  a  little  dif- 
ferent language,  I  should  say  that  the  man  is  successful  who  is 
able  to  devote  his  life  to  something  in  which  he  believes  and 
which  he  enjoys,  and  that  is  sufficiently  appreciated  by  the 
community    so    that    he    will  ^ 

not  have  to  earn  his  living  by       .  , 

something  else.  rO  G^-o-c  %T~a  utAAj  ^^f^t^Aj^^ 

Success  means  achievement  and  attainment.  It  implies 
action,  energy,  patience,  persistence,  perseverance.  It  is  the 
goal  of  faith,  hope  and  effort,  the  hill-top  of  a  weary  way,  the 
consummation  of  a  plan,  the  J  ^^ 

winning   of   a   mental,   phys-        J? f  ~&y*Q/r         /       + 

ical  or  financial  struggle.  It  tSwC&Q. *'  •  1slys*£v&£/ 
is  often  the  outcome  of  re- 
peated failures,  from  which 
we  learn  how  to  reach  it; 
then  it  is  a  crown  of  radiant 
glory. 


CZ=^p J 


To  understand  the  coherence  of  the  past,  present  and  fu- 
ture, and  thereby  the  meaning  of  life;  to  train  our  faculties  for 
high  service  in  any  honest 
endeavor;  to  educate  the  will 
so  that  the  work  we  find  may 

be  done  well  and  contented-  *^/J] Jf  J -}-$  ~~ — 

ly;  to  love  and  serve  our  fel-     C  y   v  I / (yLCliyfj^0^P^ 
low  man,  and  to  increase  in  ~~ 
all    these    things    daily — that 
is  success. 


How  to  Lessen  Contributions  to  Crime 

A  Study  for  the  M.  I.  A.  Advanced  Senior  Classes 

Lesson  IV — Societies  and  Social  Cliques 

Secret  Societies. — From  the  earliest  history  of  the  world  secret  societies 
have  existed.  (See  Pearl  of  Great  Price,  chap.  5;25-31;  Book  of  Mormon, 
Helaman,  chap.  6:18-35.)  Many  are  of  such  a  nature  as  to  be  a  menace  to 
all  organized  government.  Some  encourage  anarchy,  rebellion,  treason, 
murder,  and  indeed  all  forms  of  wickedness.  Others  may  be  only  of  a 
fraternal  nature,  and  are  beneficial  to  those  who  have  nothing  better,  but 
a  man  cannot  serve  two  masters. 

The  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints  offers,  to  its  faithful 
members  when  needed,  fraternal  advantages  equaling  and  even  snrpassing 
ir>.  value  the  financial  benefits  of  the  fraternal  societies,  and  in  addition  it 
gives  the  perfect  plan  for  correct  living  here  and  exaltation  hereafter. 

The  Church  stands  firmly  opposed  to  its  members  affiliating  with 
secrei  organizations. 

"The  Four  Hundred." — In  almost  every  city  from  the  metropolis  down 
to  the  suburban  village  in  our  own  and  other  countries  may  be  found 
social  sets  or  cliques  that  try  to  create  an  atmosphere  of  exclusiveness.  It 
would  be  taking  an  extreme  view  perhaps  to  say  they  contribute  largely 
to  crime,  yet  when  we  consider  the  shallowness  formed  in  much  of  what  is 
termed  the  best  society,  the  extravagance  and  show,  the  excesses,  late  hours, 
and  the  general  tendency  toward  laxity  in  some  of  the  important  essentials, 
must  they  not  be  considered  inimical  to  the  standard  of  life  required  by 
the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ? 

It  is  an  established  fact  that  Latter-day  Saints  who  become  affiliated 
with  these  sets  or  cliques  become  neglectful  of  Church  duties — and  soon 
begin  to  condone  such  things  as  card  playing,  partaking  of  coffee  or  tea, 
smoking,  or  taking  a  little  wine,  etc.,  and  thus  in  an  insidious  and  indirect 
manner  are  led  on  to  evil. 

The  Town  Group. — It  is  natural  in  all  communities  and  under  all  cir- 
cumstances for  congenial  spirits  to  gravitate  towards  each  other,  and  we 
are  told  that  the  object  of  these  various  associations  is  to  promote  good 
fellowship,  comradeship,  and  social  enjoyment,  but  in  the  working  out  of 
the  proposition  they  often  defeat  their  own  object,  for  it  is  the  popular 
girls  and  boys — those  who  have  no  need  of  added  enjoyment  who  are 
chosen,  while  the  lonely,  unpopular  ones  are  left  out. 

Even  among  the  Latter-day  Saints  a  spirit  of  snobbishness  is  found  in 
some  communities  that  eliminates  from  these  social  sets,  the  girls  who  give 
efficient  service  along  the  lines  of  household  work  while  welcoming  girls 
who  happen  to  choose  stenography,  clerking,  or  teaching  as  a  means  of 
obtaining  a  living.  One's  position  and  not  character  is  made  the  test  of 
entrance. 

Fraternities  and  Sororities. — This  spirit  of  exclusiveness  is  found  to 
some  extent  in  the  sororities  and  fraternities  of  our  schools.  The  argument 
is  advanced  that  in  these  school  societies  a  certain  standard  of  excellence 
must  be  attained  and  maintained.  While  this  may  be  true  and  is  all  right 
in  itself  this  excellence  does  not  depend  at  all  on  membership  in  one  of 
these   societies.     There   are   students  of  just  as  high   scholastic   attainments 


1088  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

and  who  are  just  as  popular,  who  from  choice  remain  out  of  them,  as  they 
prefer  to  encourage  the  spirit  of  democracy  in  the  school  and  feel  that 
the  added  duties  would  rather  detract  from  than  add  to  their  efficiency. 
When  we  consider  all  that  our  young  people  have  provided  for  them  in 
their  amusements  and  recreations,  in  their  home  duties,  their  school  duties, 
and  their  Church  duties,  it  would  seem  superfluous  to  add  more. 

The  expense  attached  is  another  important  item.  The  young  people 
must  have  their  dues  and  their  contributions  whether  their  parents  can 
atlord  it  or  not.  Not  the  least  to  be  considered  are  the  habits  likely  to  be 
formed  by  these  associations.  With  the  boys  it  leads  to  a  little  smoking, 
card  playing,  etc.,  if  not  to  graver  faults.  The  girls  hardly  ever  meet 
socially  that  they  do  not  have  tea  or  coffee  served  and  perhaps  cards,  and 
it  is  embrrassing  to  some  of  our  girls  not  to  join  in  all  these  things,  while 
those  who  have  strength  of  character  sufficient  to  stand  by  their  principles 
feel  rather  conspicuous. 

The  argument  is  advanced  that  by  forming  these  little  selective  groups 
of  congenial  companions  we  derive  intellectual  improvement  in  hearing 
good  lectures,  or  taking  up  special  courses  of  study  along  attractive  bines. 
If  this  be  true  for  the  few,  why  deprive  those  outside  the  charmed  circle, 
who  may  be  just  as  worthy  and  just  as  anxious  for  improvement? 

The  advanced  senior  class  in  the  M.  I.  A.  was  instituted  for  just  this 
object  that  every  need  or  desire  along  these  lines  might  be  met.  It  is  de- 
sirable that  the  M.  I.  A.  should  be  the  social  center  of  the  community  as 
far  as  possible,  encouraging  home  parties  at  which  literary  topics  are  taken 
up,  etc. 

Those  who  are  especially  endowed  intellectually,  instead  of  banding 
together  for  their  own  enjoyment  or  benefit,  to  the  exclusion  of  others, 
should  exercise  that  broad  altruism  that  is  willing  to  share  with  all,  and 
to  help  all.  And  in  all  questions  let  the  teachings  of  our  religion  be  the 
deciding  factor. 

Problems  for  Discussion. 

Show  how  social  cliques  tend  towards  class  distinction.  Towards  ex- 
clusiveness.  Towards  laxity  in  some  of  the  essentials  underlying  the  teach- 
ings of  the  M.  I.  A.  and  the  Church. 

Do  the  extra  activities  required  in  these  cliques  add  to  or  detract  from 
our  efficiency  as  M.  I.  A.  or  Church  members? 

Consider  Societies  and  Social  Cliques  from  an  economical  viewpoint; 
from  a  democratic  viewpoint;  from  an  altruistic  viewpoint. 

Lesson  V — Card  Playing 

As  an  introduction  to  this  lesson,  it  may  be  interesting  to  note  that  the 
origin  of  playing  cards  seems  to  date  back  to  very  remote  times  and  is 
closely  connected  with  the  idolatrous  practices  of  the  Egyptians,  Baby- 
lonians, and  other  ancient  peoples.  It  is  believed  that  in  the  beginning 
cards  were  the  loose  leaves  of  a  book  containing  the  mystic  rites  of  the 
worship  of  one  of  the  heathen  gods  (Mercury).  Later  they  fell  into  the 
hands  of  "soothsayers  or  unscrupulous  fortune  tellers;"  and  still  later,  "be- 
came the  tools  of  gamblers."  They  have  always  been  associated  with 
secrecies,  mysterious  cults,  and  with  games  of  chance.  (Gathered  from 
Prophetical,  Educational,  and  Playing  Cards,  by  Jacobs.) 

Card  Playing. — "Life  is  a  bank  account  with  so  much  divine  energy  at 
your  disposal.    What  are  you  going  to  do  with  it?" — Elbert  Hubbard. 

Wasting  of  Time. — Do  devotees  of  this  game  ever  count  the  number  of 
hours  consumed  in  this  pastime  or  consider  the  useful,  upbuilding  things 
which  might  be  accomplished  in  the  time  spent? 


HOW  TO  LESSEN  CONTRIBUTIONS  TO  CRIME  1089 

"I  think  it  very  wonderful  to  see  persons  of  the  best  sense  passing 
away  a  dozen  hours  together  in  shuffling  and  dividing  a  pack  of  cards, 
with  no  other  conversation  than  what  is  made  up  of  a  few  game- 
phrases,  and  no  other  ideas  but  those  of  black  or  red  spots  ranged  to- 
gether in  different  figures.  Would  not  a  man  laugh  to  have  one  of 
this  species  complaining  that  life  is  short?"  (Spectator,  No.  93. 
Taken  from  Festivals,  Games,  and  Amusements,  by  Smith.) 

"The  celebrated  Mr.  Locke  is  reported  to  have  been  once  in  com- 
pany who  proposed  cards,  when  Mr.  Locke  declined  playing,  saying  he 
would  amuse  himself  by  looking  on.  During  the  time  these  noblemen 
were  at  play,  he  was  observed  to  busy  himself  by  writing  in  his  table 
book.  At  the  conclusion  of  their  play,  Lord  Anglesea's  curiosity 
prompted  him  to  ask  Locke  what  he  had  been  writing.  His  answer 
was,  'In  order  that  none  of  the  advantages  of  your  conversation  might 
be  lost,  I  have  taken  notes  of  it;'  and  producing  his  note  book,  it 
was  found  to  be  the  fact.  The  inanity  of  such  a  collection  of  dis- 
jointed jargon,  it  is  said  had  the  desired  effect  on  the  three  noble 
philosophers;  .  .  .  cards  were  never  again  attempted  to  be  sub- 
stituted for  rational  conversation,  at  least  in  the  presence  of  Mr. 
Locke."     (From  Festivals,  Games,  and  Amusements,  by  Smith.) 

President  Joseph  F.  Smith  has  written  a  vigorous  article  in  relation  to 
this  subject  of  Card  Playing  which  every  Latter-day  Saint  would  do  well 
to  read.  (See  Improvement  Era,  August,  1913.)  In  relation  to  wasting  of 
time  he  says: 

"It  is  no  uncommon  thing  for  women,  young  and  middle  aged, 
to  spend  whole  afternoons,  and  many  of  them,  evenings  as  well,  in 
playing  cards,  thus  wasting  hours  and  days  of  precious  time  in  this 
useless  and  unprofitable  way.  Yet  those  same  people  when  ap- 
proached, declare  they  have  no  time  to  attend  either  Sunday  schools 
or  meetings.  Their  church  duties  are  neglected  for  lack  of  time,  yet 
they  spend  hours,  day  after  day,  at  cards.  They  have  thereby  en- 
couraged and  become  possessed  of  a  spirit  of  indolence,  and  their 
minds  are  filled  with  vile  drunkenness,  hallucination,  charm,  and 
fascination,  that  take  possession  of  the  habitual  card  player  to  the 
exclusion  of  all  spiritual  and  religious  feeling.  Such  a  spirit  detracts 
from  all  sacred  thought  and  sentiment." 

Excesses. — Not  only  is  the  card  player  guilty  of  the  wasting  of  precious 
time  but  so  strong  is  the  fascination  which  this  game  holds  for  him  that 
his  better  judgment  becomes  warped  and  he  is  led  to  many  extremes. 
Women  often  neglect  their  home  duties,  and  their  children,  and  rather  than 
spoil  the  "set"  at  a  card  party,  will  attend  when  the  condition  of  their 
health  should  keep  them  at  home.  Like  the  "first  glass"  the  first  game  of 
cards  seems  a  very  simple  and  innocent  affair,  but  the  second  and  third 
are  apt  to  follow  and  soon  the  playing  of  cards  becomes  such  a  habit  that 
it  is  difficult  to  overcome  it. 

Quoting  again  from  President  Smith: 

"While  a  simple  game  of  cards  in  itself  may  be  harmless,  it  is  a 
fact  that  by  immoderate  repetition,  it  ends  in  an  infatuation  for  chance 
schemes,  in  habits  of  excess,  ...  in  a  dulling  and  stupor  of  the 
mind,  and  incomplete  destruction  of  religious  feeling. 

"Behold  the  instances  that  are  common  where  women  leave  their 
children  uncared  for  to  go  off  to  play  cards;  of  men  spending  their 
earnings  at  the  gaming  table — behold  the  spirit  of  gambling,  chance, 
of  wanting  something  for  nothing,  and  the  dodging  of  honest  work, 
and  the  waiting  for  luck  and  lottery  to  bring  easy  returns;  this  spirit 


1090  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

is  encouraged  by,  if  not  born  of,  card  playing,  and  the  mania  to 
gamble  leads  to  ruin,  poverty,  spiritual  death  and  destruction.  It  is 
wrong  for  Latter-day  Saints  to  encourage  it,  or  to  unduly  indulge  in 
any  game  that  fosters  it." 

The  Spirit  accompanying  card  playing. — When  asked  her  impression  of 
card  playing,  one  young  girl  answered,  "I  remember  that  when  my  father 
and  his  friend  played  cards  they  always  remained  at  the  game  until  a 
quarrel  ensued."  The  spirit  of  contention  seems  to  hover  over  the  card 
table;  the  temptation  to  cheat  is  often  there;  the  taint  of  the  gambling 
house  clings  to  a  pack  of  cards. 

Other  forces   assisting   this   evil. — President   Smith   tells   this   incident: 

"I  have  in  mind  a  man  whose  life  is  now  ruined,  who  was  wrecked 
by  cards.  The  habit  began  innocently,  too — it  started  from  a  simple 
game  persistently  repeated,  just  to  see  who  could  win.  But  the  in- 
terest soon  waned,  and  it  was  found  necessary  to  stimulate  it  with  a 
little  glass  of  beer,  then  beer  was  too  weak.  Wine  was  next;  and  you 
know  the  old  Hebrew  saying:  'When  Satan  cannot  come  himself,  he 
sends  wine  as  a  messenger.'  But  it  became  compulsory  to  go  still 
further,  and  at  last  to  keep  up  the  interest  with  whisky.  Then  the 
stimulus  for  the  game  was  not  strong  enough  in  his  own  home,  and 
he  went  out  for  the  needed  excitement.  A  drunkard,  a  gambler,  a 
man  without  means  or  property,  an  outcast,  a  culprit  picked  up  from 
the  gutter  by  the  police — is  the  remainder  of  the  story.  It  all  began 
from  the  innocent  game  of  cards!" 

The  forces  to  be  marshaled  against  this  evil. — Having  recognized  the 
evil  which  lurks  in  this  dangerous  game,  the  influence  of  all  lovers  of 
purity  and  righteousness  should  be  brought  to  bear  against  it.  In  some  of 
the  towns  where  the  Latter-day  Saints  dwell,  this  game  has  become  extremely 
popular,  and  in  such  cases  it  will  require  the  united  and  forceful  effort  of 
the  Church  officials  and  the  strong  men  and  women  of  the  community  to 
eradicate  this  form  of  amusement. 

Realizing  to  what  evils  it  may  lead,  those  who  see  no  harm  in  it  for 
themselves  should  be  willing  to  sacrifice  their  pleasure  for  the  good  of  the 
whole  community  and  especially  the  youth. 

There  are  so  many  innocent,  wholesome  kinds  of  recreation,  such  as 
checkers,  chess  and  other  games  of  entertainment  and  instruction,  that  no 
one  need  play  cards  for  lack  of  something  better  to  play. 

The  recognition  of  the  Counsel  of  the  Church  as  a  deciding  factor. — 
The  sentiments  of  President  Joseph  F.  Smith  as  quoted  in  this  lesson  indi- 
cate plainly  the  attitude  of  the  Church  authorities  in  relation  to  this  sub- 
ject. This  should  be  enough  for  any  loyal  Latter-day  Saint,  believing  as 
he  does  in  the  divine  authenticity  of  the  work  and  the  divine  calling  of  the 
leaders  of  the  Church. 

"As  we  value  our  own  salvation  and  the  good  of  our  children,  let 
us  leave  card  playing  alone.  It  is  wrong  and  dangerous  for  the  Latter- 
day  Saints,  and  would  better  be  entirely  abolished  both  in  family, 
public,  semi-public,  and  private  gatherings." 

The  plan  of  attack  is  in  the  home,  in  public  sentiment,  and  in  the  or- 
ganizations. 

Problems  for  Discussion. 

1.  How  will  you  meet  the  argument  that  time  is  wasted  in  the  playing 
of  other  games  than  cards? 

2.  Relate  instances  where  card  playing  has  caused  an  excessive  waste 
of  time. 


HOW  TO  LESSEN  CONTRIBUTIONS  TO  CRIME  1091 

3.  Relate  instances  where  the  playing  of  this  game  has  led  to  other 
extremes. 

4.  Discuss  these  statements  of  Elbert  Hubbard:  "The  man  who  can 
play  cards  at  night  and  do  business  in  the  day  time,  hasn't  yet  been  born." 

"No  individual  in  my  employ — or  anybody  else's — who  plays  cards  for 
money,  can  eve'-  hope  for  promotion." 

5.  Does  this  evil  of  card  playing  exist  in  your  community?  How  can 
you  help  to  eliminate  it? 

6.  Discuss  evils  of  any  games  of  chance. 

7.  Discuss,  Place  of  attack  against  evil  is  in  the  home  and  in  the 
organizations. 

8.  How  may  public  sentiment  be  aroused  against  card  playing? 

9.  What  benefits  will  come  to  the  man  or  woman  who  obeys  the 
counsel  of  the  Church  in  the  matter  of  abstaining  from  card  playing? 

Lesson  VI — Public  Dancing 

So  early  in  the  world's  history  was  dancing  introduced  that  it  is  con- 
ceded to  be  the  most  ancient  art  known. 

Early  dances  embraced  the  great  events  in  savage  life,  the  drama  of 
courtship,  the  funeral  dance,  consecration  of  labor,  celebration  of  the  har- 
vest, etc.  It  was  also  associated  with  the  religious  rites  of  the  people 
Every  nation  had  its  interpretative  dance  of  the  day. 

America's  lack  of  a  national  dance  and  the  proper  fostering  of  this 
art  is  probably  due  to  the  attitude  of  the  pilgrim  fathers  which  absolutely 
prohibited  dancing.  Since  the  early  nineties  dancing  has  become  part  of 
the  public  school  svstem  and  has  long  been  recognized  as  an  educating 
factor  in  the  life  of  the  child.  It  adds  a  suppleness,  lightness  and  ease  to 
the  body  which  gives  it  greater  power  of  expression. 

Ball  room  dancing,  although  pleasing,  does  not  give  expression  to  the 
emotions  as  does  interpretative  and  folk  dancing.  It  is  also  easily  per- 
verted as  we  have  seen  in  the  dances  of  the  past  few  years  when  all  sorts 
of  grotesque  and  rediculous  dances  have  been  introducd  into  the  ball  room. 

Public  Dancing  a  Contribution  to  Crime. — A  prominent  social  worker 
in  Salt  Lake  City  says:  "I  consider  the  public  dance  hall  one  of  the 
greatest  factors  in  the  ruination  of  young  men  and  women." 

Some  of  the  objectionable  features  of  dancing  are: 

1.  The  promiscuous  association  of  the  sexes. 

2.  The  almighty  dollar  is  the  certain  badge  of  respectability;  the 
dancer  who  has  the  price  is  welcome,  although  he  may  be  the  vilest  wretch 
in  the  land.     Money  is  placed  ahead  of  character  or  reputation. 

3.  The  dancer  takes  liberties  with  the  dance  and  with  his  partner  he 
would  not  take  among  acquaintances.  License  is  taken  from  the  actions 
of  others  and  also  from  the  attitude  of  the  management.  It  is  a  strange 
but  true  saying:     "When  in  Rome,  do  as  Rome  does." 

4.  Conventionality  and  social  custom  are  usually  laid  aside  because 
the  dancer  is  not  known.  How  often  this  is  taken  advantage  of,  over  the 
telephone,  in  the  railway  coach.  Away  from  home  people  often  present 
another  side  of  their  nature  entirely  foreign  to  the  one  they  show  to  their 
family  and  friends.  So,  at  these  public  dances  people  do  evil  things  under 
the  cloak  of  not  being  known. 

5.  Detention  homes,  reformatories,  and  prisons  have  their  proportion 
of  those  who  began  their  downward  career  at  the  dance.  Oh!  the  pity  of 
the  cry  which  comes  from  many  of  these  unfortunates — they  began  visiting 
such  places  in  innocence,  totally  ignorant  of  how  soon  they  would  be  caught 
in  the  toils  of  vice. 

Forces  marshaled  by  this  evil. — Music,  painting,  dancing  are  all  arts 
which  lend  themselves  to  the  highest  emotional  enjoyment;  they  are  elevat- 


1092  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

ing  and  refining;  they  fill  the  soul  with  exquisite  pleasure.  But  these  arts 
are  often  perverted,  for  they  lend  themselves  quite  as  readily  to  gratifying 
•he  baser  nature  in  man.  Bad  music,  suggestive  and  vulgar  movements  of 
the  body,  close  position,  improper  clothing,  unlighted  rooms,  late  hours, 
use  of  tobacco,  and  the  use  of  liquor,  all  debase  and  demoralize  the  art. 
And  these  evils  are  frequently  the  accompaniment  of  the  public  dance  hall. 

Forces  to  be  marshaled  against  this  evil. — Our  pioneer  fathers  set  the 
fashion  for  dancing;  almost  daily  their  long,  tedious  journey  was  ended 
with  an  hour  or  so  of  dancing. 

President  Young  said: 

"Those  who  cannot  serve  God  with  a  pure  heart  in  a  dance,  should 

not  dance.     If  you  wish  to  dance,  dance,  and  you  are  just  as  much 

prepared  for  a  prayer  meeting  after  dancing  as  you  ever  were,  if  you 

are  Saints.     If  you  desire  to  ask  God  for  anything,  you  are  as  well 

prepared  to  do  so  in  a  dance  as  in  any  other  place,  if  you  are  Saints." 

This  standard  which  our  pioneer  leader  set  is  the  one  the  Latter-day 
Saints  recognize  and  strive  to  conform  to. 

A  clean,  well-lighted,  tastefully  decorated  hall,  supervisors  of  dances, 
good  music,  opening  and  closing  with  prayer,  presence  of  older  people  are 
among  the  necessities  of  a  well  conducted  dance.  Cleanliness  adds  comfort 
and  a  good  spirit.  Bright  light  makes  one  more  careful  of  his  deportment 
and  bearing.  How  many  sins  are  committed  under  cover  of  darkness. 
Decoration  adds  comfort,  charm,  and  tone. 

Prayer  reminds  one  that  the  pleasure  of  the  evening  must  be  clean  and 
uplifting,  that  the  good  spirit  will  be  in  the  dance  if  it  is  properly  con- 
ducted. Presence  of  older  people  helps  the  young  to  be  more  courteous  to 
others  and  watchful  of  their  own  behavior. 

The  fact  that  amusement  halls  have  become  a  ward  necessity  shows  that 
communities  realize  the  need  of  a  place  for  dancing  and  other  amusements. 
This,  however,  is  only  the  first  step  in  supplying  the  need.  Let  there  be  a 
ward  committee  in  every  ward;  let  every  ward  member  support  that  com- 
mittee and  feel  he  is  personally  responsible,  to  a  degree,  for  the  social 
activities  in  his  ward. 

There  is  a  disposition  of  the  faithful  ward  member  to  uphold  the 
bishop  in  every  religious  activity  of  the  ward,  but  to  leave  severely  alone  ths 
amusements  and  social  welfare  of  the  ward,  either  being  satisfied  without 
social  intercourse  or  seeking  it  elsewhere.  If  a  bishop  attended  to  his 
-eligious  duties  plone,  how  long  could  a  ward  be  held  together?  The  bishop 
and  the  ward  officers  are  the  pivots  around  which  all  religious,  social,  and 
temporal  activities  rotate.  They  are  necessarily  interested  in  all  three 
K"tivilies;  if  they  are  not,  the  ward  is  not  balanced.  So  with  each  indi- 
vidual member;  it  is  part  cf  his  ward  duty  to  participate  in  the  amusements 
and  give  his  best  efforts  to  the  developing  of  highest  ideals  in  dancing  and 
ill  other  legitimate  forms  of  amusement. 

Questions  and  Discussion 

1.  Discuss;     "The   test   of  a   nation's   civilization   is  measured   by   the 
use  of  its  leisure." 

2.  How  can  dancing  be  improved  in  your  community? 

3.  Discuss  remedies  for  untimely  automobile  rides,  and  for  patronizing 
refreshment  booths  after  the  dance. 

4.  What   should  be  the   attitude   of  the  individual  towards   stake  and 
ward  amusements? 

5.  Point  out  the  remedy  for  promiscuous  dancing. 

6.  What    can   be   done   to   keep   unchaperoned    girls   from    the   public 
dance? 


A  Vital  Call 


"Be  ye  clean  that  bear  the  vessels  of  the  Lord."  This 
wonderful  sentence  has  been  uttered  of  the  Lord  as  an  admoni- 
tion to  mankind  through  many  dispensations;  first,  perhaps,  to 
Moses,  then  Isaiah,  later  to  the  ancient  inhabitants  of  the  Ameri- 
can continent,  and  last  of  all  to  the  modern  American  prophet, 
Joseph  Smith:  "Go  ye  out  from  among  the  wicked,  save  your- 
selves, be  ye  clean  that  bear  the  vessels  of  the  Lord." 

As  a  people  we  have  long  been  taught  that  next  to  murder 
stands  unchastity.  Perhaps  young  people  these  days  do  not 
hear  so  much  about  it  as  the  older  ones  did  years  ago.  We  think 
there  is  need  for  them  to  hearken,  perhaps  more  today  than 
ever  before.  If  the  injunction  is  not  sounded  in  the  ears  of 
young  people  today,  so  much  the  worse  for  them,  for  under 
present  conditions,  the  necessity  is  greater  than  ever.  Cleanli- 
ness in  thought  and  act  ought  to  be  burned  into  our  very 
beings,  even  as  it  was  burned  into  the  souls  of  boys,  girls,  men 
and  women  in  the  early  days.  Years  ago,  when  young  men 
went  out  into  the  world  on  any  mission,  be  it  to  preach  the 
gospel,  or  to  fight  for  liberty,  they  were  not  only,  as  now,  earn- 
estly admonished  to  come  back  clean,  but  it  was  not  uncommon 
to  hear  parents  say,  "we  would  rather  you  would  return  to  us 
dead,  than  come  back  unclean."  These  admonitions  were  justi- 
fied, because  unchastity  sears  and  withers  the  soul,  and  per- 
sisted in,  destroys  all  prospects  of  genuine  happiness  here  and 
hereafter.  Years  of  sorrow,  regret  and  repentance,  will  scarcely 
redeem  the  unclean. 

No  person  can  be  a  good  Latter-day  Saint  who  is  not  clean 
both  inside  and  out — in  mind  and  body.  If  either  condition  is 
to  be  preferred,  it  is  better  to  be  clean  inside  than  outside.  A 
man  may  have  all  the  appearances  of  cleanliness  on  the  outside, 
and  yet  be  rotten  on  the  inside  to  such  an  extent  that  no  good 
thing  can  come  out  of  him.  No  man  can  be  spiritually  alive  and 
remain  unclean.  An  unchaste  man  who  does  not  repeat  in  sack- 
cloth and  ashes  can  not  remain  in  the  Church,  but  must  nec- 
essarily deny  the  faith.     It  is  a  fixed  penalty. 

Clean  thoughts  lead  to  clean  actions.  The  actions  of  the 
hypocrite,  even  when  he  appears  clean,  still  savor  of  corrup- 
tion in  his  inward  soul.  It  is  the  duty  of  parents  to  see  that 
their   children    shall   have    clean   books,    clean    associates,   and 


1094  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

clean  surroundings.  Nothing  should  be  sung,  or  said,  or  done, 
in  the  presence  of  the  young  that  is  not  pure.  No  story  should 
ever  be  told  that  is  filled  with  unclean  thoughts;  no  promis- 
cuous association,  or  running  about  ungarded  at  night,  on  the 
part  of  boy  or  girl,  should  be  permitted.  Such  things  tend  to 
uncleanliness.  Parents  who  fail  to  surround  their  youths  with 
elevating  safeguards  tending  to  moral  protection  are  in  grave 
danger  of  being  held  guilty  of  corrupting  innocent  souls.  They 
will  not  be  held  guiltless  before  the  Lord.  Their  own  speech 
and  actions,  too,  must  be  clean. 

Examples  of  purity,  stories  of  great  and  good  men,  like 
Joseph  and  Nephi,  should  be  held  before  and  impressed  upon 
the  young  and  tender  minds  as  safeguards  against  evil.  The 
minds  of  the  youth  should  be  filled  with  revelations  of  the 
deeds  of  noble  characters,  in  order  that  vile  images  and  sug- 
gestions may  skulk  off  to  the  corners  of  forgetfulness,  and  be 
overcome  with  good. 

The  lives  of  great  men  and  women,  the  lives  of  our  leaders, 
plead  with  us  to  "be  clean."  The  clear  skies  from  the  mountain 
tops,  the  sparkling  eyes  of  childhood,  the  honorable  teachers 
in  the  Church,  the  noble  fathers  and  mothers  in  the  home  circle, 
and  the  very  atmosphere  of  our  glorious  mountains,  breathe 
cleanliness  and  courage.  Let  no  young  man  or  woman  at  home 
or  in  the  armies  forget  their  pleading  call. 

For  the  sake  of  our  family  names,  and  the  name  of  our 
Church,  and  for  our  own  happiness  and  salvation,  let  us  heed 
the  vital  command  of  the  Father:  "Be  ye  clean." 


New  Volume  of   the  Era 


The  twenty-first  volume  of  the  Improvement  Era  closes 
with  thia  number.  We  extend  thanks  to  all  the  writers,  and  our 
sincere  appreciation  to  the  young  men  in  all  our  organizations 
who  have  assisted  us  in  circulating  the  magazine  during  the 
past  year.  Their  labors  have  made  it  possible  for  us  to  con- 
tinue the  magazine  with  its  full  number  of  pages  of  reading 
matter  notwithstanding  the  excessive  increase  in  cost  of  paper 
and  other  expenses  connected  with  its  publication  under  pre- 
vailing conditions. 

Volume  22,  begins  in  November  and  we  solicit  the  contin- 
ued aid  of  our  friends  in  making  the  coming  volume  the  best 
of  all.  Our  readers  are  asked  to  use  the  blank  order  form  in 
this  issue  to  renew  their  subscriptions.  All  subscriptions  will 
be  credited  to  the  ward.  Promptness  in  sending  in  the  order 
will  insure  their  receiving  the  magazine  without  missing  any 
number.     Do  not  wait  to  be  solicited.     Notices  of  expiration 


EDITORS'  TABLE  1095 

have  also  been  sent  to  each  subscriber,  and  we  trust  that  each 
will  send  in  his  own  renewal  immediately. 

Blanks  for  subscriptions  have  been  sent  to  the  presidents 
of  associations  for  distribution  to  the  ward  officers.  A  canvass 
for  the  magazine  should  begin  immediately,  and  every  family 
in  the  Church  should  be  visited  and  asked  to  subscribe,  so  that 
the  efficiency  credit  in  the  monthly  report  for  each  association 
may  be  earned.  Officers  should  get  at  the  work  without  delay, 
and  set  a  definite  time  to  complete  it,  letting  it  not  drag  on 
during  the  season.  Every  page  of  the  Era  will  be  crowded  with 
good  reading. 


Nation-Wide  Prohibition,  1919 


Prohibition  on  liquor  has  been  postponed  until  July,  1919, 
but  the  following  questions,  appearing  in  a  recent  number  of 
the  iVeic  York  Independent,  are  still  pertinent  and  were  not 
answered  in  the  postponement.  Let  us  be  thankful,  however, 
that  Nation-wide  Prohibition  is  in  sight: 

If— Why  Not 

If  coal  will  win  the  war,  why  not  save  the  60,000,000  tons  used  by  the 
saloons  last  year? 

If  food  will  win  the  war,  why  not  save  the  3,150,000  bushels  of  grain 
used  for  brewing  last  year? 

If  transportation  will  win  the  war,  why  not  save  the  157,915  cars  used  to 
transport  beers,  wines  and  liquors  last  year? 

If  ships  will  win  the  war,  why  not  quit  sending  abroad  the  1,647,777 
gallons  of  whiskey  we  withdrew  for  export  last  March? 

If  labor  will  win  the  war,  why  not  put  to  work  at  some  essential  indus- 
try the  1000,000  bartenders  and  54,000  brewers'  workers  now  in  this  country? 

If  money  will  win  the  war,  why  not  spend  on  something  useful  the 
$2,000,000,000  we  spent  on  drink  last  year? 


Messages  from  the  Missions 

Successful  Concert  for  Meetinghouse  Fund 

A.  Glen  Wright,  in  a  letter  dated  Thames,  New  Zealand,  gives  the  fol- 
lowing information  to  the  Era:  "On  July  Fourth  we  held  a  bazaar  and 
concert  for  the  benefit  of  our  building  fund  of  the  new  meetinghouse  which 
we  contemplate  erecting.  The  Relief  Society  sisters  worked  night  and  day 
for  weeks  getting  useful  material  on  hand.  We  have  eight  families  of 
Saints  here.  A  number  of  our  friends  gave  kindly  assistance.  The  business 
people  especially  were  good  in  giving  donations  of  money  and  material. 
The  net  proceeds  of  the  bazaar  and  concert  were  $230.  Our  success  is  an 
indication  that  the  Lord  indeed  blessed  us,  and  that  we  have  a  great  num- 
ber of  friends  here.    With  this  support  we  feel  that  it  will  not  be  long  until 


1096  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

our  new  church  will  be  built.  Thames  has  a  population  of  2,500.  The  work 
is  progressing  nicely  here,  and  we  know  that  after  our  new  chapel  is  erected 
it  will  grow  still  more  rapidly.  The  elders  enjoy  the  Era  very  much,  and 
look  forward  to  its  coming.  The  Saints  also  and  friends  enjoy  it  in  their 
homes.  We  also  put  a  copy  monthly  into  the  public  library  where  undoubt- 
edly it  is  extensively  read  by  those  who  visit." 


OFFICE  FORCE,  WESTERN  STATES  MISSION,  DENVER,  COLO. 

Top  row:  Elders  W.  Freeman  Mallory,  Shelley,  Idaho,  and  Percy  L. 
Hoare,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah. 

Sitting:  John  L.  Herrick  (mission  president),  Sister  Zelma  Shaw,  Ogden, 
Utah,  and  Elder  Henry  L.  Bartholomew,  Fayette,  Utah,  who  was  released 
May  1,  1918,  after  thirty  months  of  service,  as  mission  secretary. 

Church  Work  in  Scandinavia 

The  statistics  of  the  Scandinavian  Mission,  for  the  year  1917,  are  printed 
in  the  April  1  number  of  Skandinaviens  Stjerne.  It  appears  from  this  re- 
port that  there  are  27  branches  in  the  mission,  which  includes  the  nations 
of  Norway  and  Denmark;  a  total  of  twenty-three  elders  are  laboring  in 
those  two  countries  including  three  high  priests,  twelve  seventies  and  eight 
elders.  The  total  membership  of  the  mission  is  2,681  which  does  not  in- 
clude the  618  children  under  eight  years  of  age.  There  were  fifty-nine  bap- 
tisms in  Denmark,  and  sixty-seven  in  Norway,  making  a  total  for  the  year 
of  one  hundred  and  twenty-six.  Only  forty-one  people  emigrated  during 
the  year.  This  includes  sixteen  children.  In  the  Swedish  mission  there 
were  eighty-three  baptisms  during  the  year  1917. 

Few  to  Preach  the  Gospel 

"Elders  laboring  in  the  British  mission,  who  attended  the  Nottingham 
conference,  May  12,  1918:     Standing,  left  to  right:  Arnold  G.  Holland,  clerk 


EDITORS'  TABLE  1097 

of  the  Norwich  conference;  Leland  Hair,  clerk  of  the  Sheffield  conference; 
sitting:  W.  E.  Bodily,  Liverpool  conference;  State  England,  clerk  Notting- 
ham conference;  Leroy  S.  Dickson,  president  Nottingham  conference;  Orial 
L.  Anderson,  president  Norwich  conference ;  and  Hugh  S.  Latimer,  president 
Sheffield  conference.    "We  enjoy  reading  the  Era  very  much,  and  look  for  it 


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to  make  its  appearance  on  this  side  of  the  mighty  water  every  time  an 
edition  is  sent  out.  We  also  enjoy  our  work,  and  although  there  are  but 
few  of  us  now,  we  feel  that  with  the  Lord's  help  we  will  be  able  to  carry 
it  on.  There  are  many  good,  honest-hearted,  God-fearing  people  in  this 
country  who  would  readily  accept  the  gospel  if  we  could  but  find  a  way 
to  get  in  touch  with  them." — State  England. 

Greetings  front  Samoa 

Elder  C.  M.  Ferrin,  Savaii,  Samoa,  July  15,  writes:  "The  elders  of  this 
conference  express  our  hearty  gratitude  for  the  Era  through  which  we  re- 
ceive many  good  instructions  which  aid  us  in  the  performance  of  our  mis- 
sionary labors.  We  send  our  best  wishes  to  all  our  fellow-laborers  through- 
out the  world.  Since  America  joined  the  war,  our  numbers  have  been  re- 
duced from  nine  to  three,  but  we  are  having  great  success  among  the  na- 
tives of  this  island.  Elders  who  labor  here  are  Arnold  D.  Madsen,  Rigby, 
Idaho;  Clyde  M.  Ferrin,  conference  president,  Salt  Lake  City,  G.  H.  Hale, 
Blackfoot,  Idaho. 

L.  D.  S.  Maori  Agricultural  College 

"The  College  is  now  in  its  sixth  year  of  school  work,  and  is  making 
satisfactory  progress  in  every  way.  Each  year  sees  a  more  favorable  attitude 
on  the  part  of  the  people  of  New  Zealand  toward  the  institution.  Recently 
some  of  the  officials  of  the  Department  of  Education  have  favored  us  with 
a  visit  and  have  been  favorably  impressed  with  the  work  that  we  are  doing 
with  the  youth  of  Maoridom. 

"President  Lambert,  of  the  New  Zealand  mission,  and  Principal  Welch, 


1098 


IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


of  the  College,  have  had  the  pleasure  of  calling  upon  several  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  New  Zealand  cabinet,  with  a  view  to  acquainting  them  more 
fully  with  our  work  and  establishing  relations  with  the  Government  de- 
partments of  Education  and  Agriculture. 

"From  every  standpoint  this  is  one  of  the  most  favorable  and  success- 
ful years  of  the  school's  history,  and  it  is  one  of  the  most  important  factors 
in  the  spread  of  the  gospel,  in  this  land. 

"In  addition  to  the  teaching  staff  and  farm  department  the  College  con- 
ference includes  the  elders  who  are  engaged  in  publishing  the  mission  paper, 
Te  Karere. 


ilifc  "HBBMJJi  ,*-**,^r'i'  *  *g 

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"Missionaries  and  children  of  the  Maori  Agricultural  College  conference, 
left  to  right,  standing:  Rudolph  Church,  Panguitch,  Utah;  Elvis  J.  Brown, 
Chandler,  Ariz.;  James  W.  Patterson,  Bloomington,  Ida;  Eugene  C.  Ridges, 
Ogden,  Utah;  Geo.  R.  Schofield,  Salt  Lake  City;  Wm.  John  Wilson,  Eden, 
Utah;  Joseph  J.  Fenton,  Salt  Lake  City;  Rulon  W.  Clark,  Farmington,  Utah. 
Sitting:  L.  L.  Cook  and  Florence  D.  Cook,  Garden  City,  Utah;  James  N. 
Lambert,  mission  president,  John  S.  Welch,  College  Principal;  and  Eulalia 
S.  Welch,  Paradise,  Utah;  F.  Earl  Stott  and  Ida  F.  Stott,  Fillmore,  Utah. 
Children:  Lila  Cook,  Mabel  Cook,  Reeta  Stott,  Vera  Stott,  Edith  Welch, 
Ruth  Stott."— John  S.  Welch. 

Elders  Very  Scarce 

John  H.  Wilding  writes  from  Antabe  Road,  Hull,  England,  August  8  ; 
"A  good  number  of  investigators  and  friends  attend  our  weekly  meetings  in 
the  different  branches.  Traveling  elders  are  very  scarce,  but  the  local 
brethren,  who  have  been  organized  and  given  entire  charge  of  the  branch, 
are  doing  the  work  very  successfully,  with  the  help  of  the  two  regular  trav- 
eling elders  and  twenty-one  lady  missionaries  who  have  volunteered  to  spend 
a  part  of  their  leisure  hours  in  tracting  and  explaining  the  gospel  princi- 
ples. We  have  also  been  visited  by  two  of  Uncle  Sam's  "Mormon"  soldiers, 
Corporal  Sterling  D.  Lewis,  son  of  Wm.  D.  Lewis,  and  Rodney  X.  Pack, 
who  greatly  inspired  all  who  were  assembled  to  hear  their  testimonies  and 
feel  the  spirit  of  love  which  they  carried  with  them  in  the  service  of  their 
country.     The   Saints   enjoyed  their  visit   and   treated   them   to   some   good 


home-like  meals.     Their  photos  are  enclosed  herewith,  also  the  photos  of 
some   of  the   conference   workers,   as   follows:      Top   row:    Robert  Watson, 


Grimsby;  Frederick  G.  Day,  Cardiff,  Wales,  conference  clerk.  Bottom  row: 
James  R.  Skipworth,  Grimsby;  Wm.  D.  Lewis,  Provo,  ex-conference  presi- 
dent;  John  H.  Wilding,   Sugar   City,   Ida.,  conference  president." 


The  Penrose  Family  Association  was  organized  on  Thursday  evening, 
August  22,  at  the  home  of  President  Charles  W.  Penrose,  of  the  First  Presi- 
dency of  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints.  President  Charles 
W.  Penrose  was  appointed  president,  Ernest  R.  Penrose,  vice  president;  H. 
L.  Penrose,  treasurer;  E.  C.  Penrose,  secretary;  E.  L.  Whitney,  correspond- 
ing secretary;  Mrs.  Eva  C.  Penrose,  historian;  Leo  Penrose,  finance  com- 
mittee; Jessie  Penrose  Jones,  genealogist. 


MUTUAL, 
WORK 

The  Mission  of  America 

(To  be  used  as  a  Declamation  in  all  the  associations  for  November,  to 
prepare  members  for  contests  to  be  held  in  March  and  April,  1919.) 

The  mission  of  America  in  the  world  is  essentially  a  mission  of  peace 
and  good  will  among  men.  She  has  become  the  home  and  asylum  of  men 
of  all  creeds  and  races.  Within  her  hospitable  borders  they  have  found 
homes  and  congenial  associations,  and  freedom  and  a  wide  and  cordial 
welcome,  and  they  have  become  part  of  the  bone  and  sinew  and  spirit  of 
America  itself.  America  has  been  made  up  out  of  the  nations  of  the  world 
and  is  the  friend  of  the  nations  of  the  world.  America  has  not  opened  its 
doors  in  vain  to  the  men  and  women  out  of  other  nations.  The  vast  major- 
ity of  those  who  have  come  to  take  advantage  of  her  hospitality  have  united 
their  spirits  with  hers  as  well  as  their  fortunes.  These  men  who  speak  alien 
sympathies,  who  raise  the  cry  of  race  against  race,  or  of  church  against 
church,  who  attempt  to  create  divisions  and  antagonisms  where  there  are 
none — such  men  are  not  the  spokesmen  of  the  great  mass  of  Americans,  but 
the  spokesmen  of  small  groups  whom  it  is  high  time  that  the  Nation  should 
call  to  a  reckoning.  The  chief  thing  necessary  in  America,  in  order  that 
she  should  let  all  the  world  know  that  she  is  prepared  to  maintain  her  own 
great  position,  is  that  the  real  voice  of  the  Nation  should  sound  forth  un- 
mistakably and  in  majestic  volume,  in  the  deep  unison  of  a  common,  unhesi- 
tating national  feeling.  I  do  not  doubt  that  upon  the  first  occasion,  upon 
the  first  opportunity,  upon  the  first  challenge,  that  voice  will  speak  forth  in 
tones  which  no  man  can  doubt  and  with  command  which  no  man  dare 
gainsay  or  resist. 

Here  is  the  Nation  God  has  builded  by  our  hands.  What  shall  we  do 
with  it?  Who  is  there  who  does  not  stand  ready  at  all  times  to  act  in  her 
behalf  in  a  spirit  of  devoted  and  disinterested  patriotism?  We  are  yet  only 
in  the  youth  and  first  consciousness  of  our  power  The  day  of  our  country's 
life  is  still  but  in  its  fresh  morning.  Let  us  lift  our  eyes  to  the  great  tracts 
of  life  yet  to  be  conquered  in  the  interests  of  righteous  peace.  Come,  let 
us  renew  our  allegiance  to  America,  conserve  her  strength  in  its  purity, 
make  her  chief  among  those  who  serve  mankind,  self-reverenced,  self-com'- 
manded,  mistress  of  all  forces  of  quiet  counsel,  strong  above  all  others  in 
good  will  and  the  might  of  invincible  justice  and  right.  -President  Wood- 
rotv  Wilson. 

(Extract  of  speech  delivered  before  the  Manhattan  Club,  New  York  Citv 
Nov.  4,  1915.) 


Helpful  Hints  to  Stake  Officers  M.  I.  A. 

Make  a  thorough  digest  of  all  the  work  to  be  undertaken. 

Let  there  be  unity  of  effort  of  the  two  Boards,  with  complete  under- 
standing  among  the  members,  and  between  the  Boards,  for  first-class  team 
work. 

Stake  officers  should  assume  a  sympathetic  attitude  toward  ward  offi- 
cers, and  make  constructive  criticism  when  visiting. 


MUTUAL  WORK  1101 

Have  increased  interest  awakened  in  music;  provide  more  and  better 
music. 

Place  implicit  reliance  on  Divine  aid,  but  work  bard. 

Make  it  a  point  to  bear  testimony  to  the  divinity  of  the  Prophet  Joseph 
Smith's  mission  as  often  as  possible. 

Provide  occasion  to  speak  personally  to  your  officers. 

Make  assignments  definite  and  follow  up  their  performance. 

Keep  a  record  of  each  member's  work. 

Keep  in  communication  with  the  General  Board,  and  answer  promptly 
all  correspondence  of  the  Board. 

Provide  some  form  of  social  activity  for  stake  officers. 

Take  an  interest  in  your  duties,  and  be  not  satisfied  with  slipshod  and 
merely  passable  work  in  yourself  or  in  the  officers  under  you. 

Resolve  to  do  your  own  part  promptly,  as  well  as  you  can,  and  then 
help  others  to  do  their  part. 

Do  your  work  in  a  cheerful  spirit  with  the  realization  that  petulance 
and  pessimism  depress  all  the  workers  and  injure  all  the  work. 


Destroying  an  Association 

1 
A  recent  issue  of  The  Decorating  and  Painting  Contractor  told  of  ten 
ways  in   which   to   kill  an  association.     The   following   are   some   of  them, 
which  may  well  apply  to  the  Y.  M.  M.  I.  A..    The  Era  is  indebted  to  Pres- 
ident James  Duckworth  of  the  Blackfoot  stake  for  the  copy: 

"Don't  come  to  the  meetings,  but  if  you  do  come,  come  late." 
"If  the  weather  doesn't  suit  you,  don't  think  of  coming." 
"If  you  do  attend  meetings,  find  fault  with  the  work  of  the  officers  and 
other  members." 

"Never  accept  an  office;  it  is  easier  to  criticize  than  do  things." 
"If  asked  by  the   chairman  to   give  your  opinion  regarding  some   im- 
portant matter,  tell  him  you  have  nothing  to  say.     After  the  meeting  tell 
everyone  how  things  ought  to  be  done." 

"Do  nothing  more  than  is  necessary,  but  when  other  members  roll  up 
their  sleeves  and  willingly,  unselfishly  use  their  ability  to  help  matters 
along,  howl  that  the  association  is  run  by  a  clique." 

"Hold  back  your  dues  as  long  as  possible,  or  don't  pay  at  all." 
"Don't  bother  about  getting  new  members.    'Let  George  do  it.' " 
Now,   will   some   one   give   the   Era  ten   positive,   constructive   ways   to 
build  up  an  association,  not  necessarily  including  the  antithesis  of  the  above 
negatives? 


Pioneer  Stake  Activity  Guide 

The  Era  is  in  receipt  of  a  neat  pocket  activity  guide  for  the  year  1918-19 
of  the  Pioneer  Stake  Mutual  Improvement  Association.  On  the  cover  page 
is  the  association  insignia,  containing  the  following  motto:  "Success  comes 
in  cans,  failures  in  can'ts.  Pioneer  Stake  M.  I.  A.  We  Can."  Under  this  is 
printed  the  M.  I.  A.  slogans  for  the  past  five  years.  The  booklet  contains 
the  names  of  all  the  stake  officers,  including  the  high  council,  alternates, 
bishops  of  wards,  with  their  addresses;  superintendents  of  Y.  M.  and  Y.  L. 
M.  I.  A.,  and  members  of  the  stake  boards,  ward  presidents  of  the  Y.  M.  and 
Y.  L.  M.  I.  A.,  dates  of  the  monthly  stake  officers'  meetings,  including  the 
M.  I.  A.  monthly  meeting ;  time  of  ward  sacrament  meetings  in  each  ward  of 
the  stake;  home  missionary  appointments  for  the  year;  the  M.  I.  A.  Reading 
Course;  the  program  of  joint  enlistment  work:  the  dates  and  titles  of  all  the 


1102 


IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


social  events  for  the  year,  and  the  regular  details  of  the  M.  I.  A.  activities. 
The  circular  also  provides  preliminary  programs  for  each  week  of  the 
whole  season,  including  the  five  suggested  by  the  General  Boards,  with 
other  instructions.  It  contains  also  an  honor  roll,  consisting  of  the  names 
of  all  residents  of  that  stake  irrespective  of  creed  who  are  in  the  Govern- 
ment service.  There  are  547  enlistments  in  the  fifteen  wards  of  that  stake. 
Datus  Eugene  Hammond  of  the  stake  presidency,  former  superintendent  of 
the  Y.  M.  M.  I.  A.,  and  Bruno  Lange,  secretary  of  the  Y.  M.  M.  I.  A.,  are 
in  the  service  of  the  country,  also  Eli  W.  Eliason  and  Joseph  R.  Worthen  of 
the  stake  board  Y.  M.  M.  I.  A.,  besides  a  large  number  of  the  members  of  the 
various  associations. 


Class  Methods  in  New  Zealand 


Elder  A.  Glen  Wright  and  his  counselors,  shown  in  this  picture,  are 
engaged  as  Presidency  of  the  Mutual  Improvement  Association  in  the  New 
Zealand  mission.  The  elders  are,  from  left  to  right:  J.  D.  Lauritzen,  Vic- 
tor, Idaho,  second  counselor;  A.  Glen  Wright,  president,  W.  J.  Maw,  Ogden, 
Utah,  first  counselor.  He  writes  :  "We  have  Mutuals  organized  in  several 
of  the  branches  of  the  missions,  both  among  the  Maori  and  the  European 

people,  and  much  good 
is  being  accomplished  in 
the  way  of  teaching  the 
young  people  the  princi- 
ples of  the  gospel  and 
how  to  live.  At  present 
we  are  taking  up  a  study 
of  The  Articles  of  Faith, 
by  Elder  James  E.  Tal- 
mage,  and  in  every  Mu- 
tual throughout  the  mis- 
sion intense  interest  is 
being  shown  in  the  work. 
Where  the  Mutuals  are 
organized  among  the 
Maori  people,  work  is 
taken  up  in  English,  and 
we  find  that  in  this  way 
the  native  people  are  not 
,         ,    ,  ,    ,  .  only     gaining     a     knowl- 

edge ot  the  gospel,  but  are  also  learning  to  speak  and  understand  English 
better.  Elders  Maw  and  Lauritzen  are  both  laboring  among  the  natives, 
and  in  outlining  the  work  for  them  to  take  up,  it  is  done  in  the  most  sim- 
ple way,  in  order  that  it  can  be  readily  understood. 

"In  order  to  create  an  interest  in  the  class  and  that  all  may  take  part,  a 
class  question  is  assigned  each  week  to  the  entire  class  on  the  following 
week's  lesson,  and  the  following  week,  before  the  lesson  is  given,  this 
question  is  asked.  For  the  class  to  be  able  to  answer  this  question  it  is 
necessary  for  them  to  study  the  lesson.  A  great  deal  of  interest  is  taken  in 
this  class  question  and  in  most  instances  the  entire  class  have  studied  the 
lesson.  Also  in  connection  with  this  class  question,  we  have  a  class  quota- 
tion. The  entire  class  is  asked  to  be  able  to  quote  either  the  article  of  faith 
under  consideration,  or  a  passage  of  scripture  with  that  particular  article 
The  passages  are  chosen  by  the  presidency  in  outlining  the  work  and  are 
assigned  a  week  previous  to  the  entire  class. 

"We  find  that  the  Improvemment  Era  is  a  great  help  to  us  in  our  Mutual 
work;  in  fact,  we  feci  that  it  is  indispensable," 


iiiuiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiininui^ 


Mlllllllllllillllllllllllilll 


PASSING    EVENTS 


A  call  for  454  men  from  Utah  has  been  made  from  Class  1  to  entrain 
for  Camp  Lewis,  Wash.,  during  the  five-day  period  beginning  Oct.  7. 

Registration  of  young  men,  reaching  their  majority  between  June  5  and 
August  24,  numbered  630  in  Utah  of  which  588  were  native  born  and  42 
born  in  foreign  countries. 

American  soldiers  in  France,  it  was  given  out  September  4,  numbered 
1,600,000,  and  there  was  a  constant  stream  of  ships  carrying  soldiers  to 
France  during  the  month. 

An  anti-tank  rifle  has  been  captured  by  the  Canadians  during  their  re- 
cent drive.  It  is  a  latest  German  invention  for  use  against  the  tanks,  and 
fires  a  cartridge  about  five  inches  long,  and  has  a  bore  of  one-half  inch. 

Utah's  National  Guard,  the  145  F.  A.,  left  an  eastern  port  for  service 
overseas  about  August  16,  and  landed  safely  in  England  about  August  26, 
being  immediately  sent  to  France  for  training  for  service  at  the  front. 

Major  A.  Rose,  23  Battalion,  U.  S.  guards,  became  the  new  Post  Com- 
mander at  Fort  Douglas  on  Sept.  1.  Lieutenantt  Win.  Langbehn,  his  adjutant. 
Captain  M.  S.  Game  is  thus  relieved  of  the  office  work  as  Post  commander. 

Utah  was  called  upon  to  furnish  900  Class  1  men  for  entrainment  to 
Camp  Kearny,  California,  Sept.  3  to  6  inclusive.  Also  five  negroes  for 
Camp  Lewis.  This  took  practically  all  the  Class  1  men  then  available  in 
the  state. 

A  new  wireless  service  system  between  Japan  and  the  United  States  is 
being  installed.  The  proposed  station  will  work  with  a  station  on  the 
Pacific  coast,  probably  near  San  Francisco,  a  distance  of  4,600  miles,  one 
of  the  longest  direct  wireless  services  in  the  world. 

The  Czecho-Slovaks  were  recognized  as  a  belligerent  nation  by  the 
American  government,  on  September  3.  The  United  States  is  prepared  to 
enter  into  relations  with  that  government  for  the  purpose  of  prosecuting 
the  war  against  the  common  enemy,  the  empires  of  Germany  and  Austria- 
Hungary. 

Carl  A.  Carlquist,  formerly  president  of  the  Scandinavian  mission,  was 
appointed  bishop  of  the  fifth  ward,  Salt  Lake  City,  on  Sunday,  September  8, 
with  Joshua  E.  Salisbury  and  Jesse  M.  Drury  counselors.  Bishop  Carlquist 
was  born  January  7,  1857.  He  came  to  Utah  in  1877,  and  has  taken  an 
active  part  continually  in  Church  work. 

Immigration  to  the  United  States  for  the  year  ending  June  30,  1918, 
numbered  110,618,  a  smaller  number  than  in  any  year  since  the  Civil  War. 
Mexico  furnished  the  largest  number  of  immigrants,  the  total  from  that 
country  being  17,602.  England  and  Japan  came  second  and  third  respec- 
tively in  furnishing  immigrants. 

Marshal  Foch  received  his  baton  as  the  marshal  of  France  on  August  23 
from  President  Poincare  in  the  presence  of  Premier  Clemenceau  In  the 
simnle  ceremony  of  presentation  which  took  place  in  the  court-yard  of  an 
old  Frendi^Sau,  President  Poincare  referred  briefly  but  eloquently  to 


1104  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

the  marshal's  career  and  told  him:     "You  have  well  merited  the  high  dignity 
conferred  upon  you." 

Joint  Conference  Reunion — The  reunion  for  the  Leeds,  Hull  and  Shef- 
field conferences  of  the  British  Mission  will  be  held  jointly  this  year  in  the 
Sugar  House  chapel,  promptly  at  8  p.  m.,  Saturday,  October  5.  A  program 
to  suit  all  ages  and  tastes  has  been  arranged,  and  a  good  time  is  assured.  A 
cordial  invitation  is  extended  to  all  interested  in  Yorkshire  and  adjoining 
counties. — Albert  E.  Foster,  secretary  to  joint  committee. 

London  Conference  Reunion — Executive  committee  has  perfected  elab- 
orate preparations  for  the  coming  "event,"  a  special  feature  of  which  will 
be  the  entertaining  of  friends  and  relatives  of  London  missionaries  and  emi- 
grated Saints  now  in  war  service.  Meeting  in  the  Pioneer  stake  hall,  126 
West  Fifth  South,  for  the  reunion  to  be  held  Friday,  October  4,  1918,  7:30 
o'clock.  London  missionaries  and  conference  presidents  are  asked  to  occupy 
stand.    A  big  event  is  expected. — John  T.  Seaich. 

Nikolai  Lenine,  the  Bolshevik  premier,  was  shot,  on  a  Moscow  street, 
early  in  September,  by  Dora  Kaplan,  a  Russian  revolutionary  recently  from 
the  Crimea.  He  was  at  first  reported  dead,  but  later  recovering.  The  Bol- 
sheviki,  ascribing  the  attempt  at  his  life  and  also  the  assassination  of  the 
German  representatives  at  Kiev  and  Moscow  to  the  Social  Revolutionists, 
have  declared  a  reign  of  terror;  all  entente  subjects  are  to  be  interned  and 
all  non-residents  ordered  to  leave  Moscow  and  Petrograd,  and  thousands  are 
being  shot  down. 

Norwich  Reunion — The  Norwich  reunion  (England)  will  be  held  in  the 
10th  ward  amusement  hall,  Fourth  South  and  Eighth  East  streets,  on  Saturday 
evening,  October  5,  promptly  at  8  o'clock.  English  games,  songs,  music  and 
dances  will  be  given  a  prominent  place  in  the  program.  National  hymns  of 
England  and  America  will  also  be  sung.  John  Morris  will  preside.  All 
former  missionaries  and  residents  of  this  conference  are  cordially  invited, 
and  they  are  asked  to  bring  their  families  and  friends  with  them.  Take 
Wandamere  or  Ninth  East  cars. 

War  time  prohibition  is  to  take  effect  after  June  30,  1919.  The  Senate 
of  the  United  States,  on  August  29,  passed  the  prohibition  amendment  to 
the  Food  Stimulation  bill.  The  bill  provides  that  after  June  30,  1919,  no 
snirits,  beer  or  wins  shall  be  sold  for  beverage  purposes  except  for  export. 
The  Internal  Revenue  Commissioner  shall  regulate  the  sale  of  wine  for 
sacramental,  medicinal  and  special  uses.  No  intoxicants  are  to  be  imported. 
The  President  may  at  any  time,  after  approval  of  the  act,  establish  prohibi- 
tion zones  about  coal  mines,  munition  plants,  ship  yards,  and  other  war 
works. 

Registration  Day,  Sept.  12,  was  declared  a  national  holiday,  and  all  men 
between  and  including  eighteen  to  twenty,  and  thirty -two  to  forty-five,  inclu- 
sive, were  required  to  register  throughout  the  United  States  to  create  a  new 
army  estimated  to  reach  the  number  of  3,200,000  men.  The  holiday  was 
generally  observed,  and  there  was  not  a  hitch  in  the  registration,  close  on 
to  thirteen  million  men  being  registered.  In  Salt  Lake  City  alone  nearly 
fifteen  thousand  men  registered.  It  was  estimated  that  the  total  registration 
for  the  State  of  Utah  would  be  about  53,000,  which  is  two  or  three  thousand 
below  the  estimated  draft.  Approximately  thirteen  million  men,  from 
which  will  come  the  reserves  to  win  the  war,  were  registered  in  this  second 
great  mobilization  of  the  Nation's  manpower. 

General  Foch,  and  the  allied  armies  under  his  direction,  continued  their 
attack  on  the  whole  western  battle  line,  from  Ypres  to  east  of  Rheims.  Dur- 
ing August  the  British  regained  part  of  the   ground  they  lost  last  March, 


PASSING  EVENTS 


1105 


also  crossed  the  Hindenburg  line  and  took  Peronne  and  Lens,  crossed  an 
extension  of  the  Hindenburg  line  near  Arras,  at  Queant,  near  Cambrai, 
which  they  captured  on  September  2,  taking  ten  thousand  prisoners.  The 
Americans  assisted  both  the  English  and  the  French  in  their  attacks,  and 
with  the  French,  on  August  29,  took  Noyon.  On  the  following  day  the 
Americans  took  Juvigny.  On  August  31  the  British  took  Kemmel,  and  on 
September  1  the  Australians  took  Peronne  and  the  Americans  Voorme- 
zeele,  near  Ypres.  On  Sept.  2  the  Rhine  cities  were  bombed.  On  Sept. 
12  the  Americans  and  French  launched  a  new  drive  at  St.  Mihiel, 
causing  the  Germans  to  withdraw  with  great  loss,  and  continuing,  the 
Allies  went  on  to  within  a  few  miles  of  Metz,  the  city  which  is  considered 
impregnable,  owing  to  its  marvelous  trenches.  Premier  Lloyd  George, 
speaking  at  Manchester,  Sept..  12,  said:  "Nothing  but  heart  failure  on  the 
part  of  the  British  nation  can  prevent  our  achieving  a  real  victory."  The 
Americans  achieved  great  success  in  the  drive  at  St.  Mihiel,  and  while  the 
battle  was  most  furious,  it  was  still  considered  a  pleasant  fight  compared 
with  what  the  Americans  went  through  on  the  Marne.  The  Americans  are 
reported  to  have  taken  over  eighteen  thousand  prisoners,  many  guns  and 
much  ammunition. 


Canadian  Official  Photo.     ©  Underwood  &  Underwood,  N.   Y. 

This  is  a  familiar  scene  where  the  British  and  Canadians  are  fighting 
today.  Canadian  cavalrymen  are  bringing  in  a  few  of  the  many  thousands 
of  German  soldiers  they  have  been  capturing  within  the  fighting  lines  re- 
cently. Canadian  infantry  can  be  seen  on  the  left  of  the  picture  ready  to 
march  to  the  front.  Thousands  of  prisoners  have  been  taken  in  the  recent 
fighting  by  the  Canadians.  At  Hendecourt  they  broke  through  the  "switch 
line"  before  Cagnicourt  after  which  they  stormed  Dury,  two  miles  north 
of  Villers-lez-Cagnicourt.  South  of  the  Scarpe  river,  led  by  tanks,  the 
Canadians  swept  forward  along  the  Arras  Cambrai  road. 


1106  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


Died  in  Service 


Hyrum  A.  Perry,  son  of  Hyrum  D.  Perry,  of  Mapleton,  Utah,  was  re- 
ported killed  in  action  on  the  western  front. 

Angela  Santarelli,  Tooele,  Utah,  is  reported  as  killed  on  the  western 
front  in  France,  in  the  casualty  list  of  Sept.  12. 

Albert  S.  Killian,  of  Sheridan,  Wyoming,  was  killed  in  action  on  the 
western  front,  according  to  the  casualty  list  of  August  27. 

Hyrum  Schulzen,  of  West  Jordan,  Utah,  age  26,  is  reported  killed  in 
action  in  France,  September  13.  He  entered  the  army  Nov.  3,  1917,  and  went 
to  Camp  Lewis  for  training. 

William  C.  Morris,  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  I.  Morris,  who  removed 
to  Salt  Lake  some  years  ago  from  Greeley,  Idaho,  was  killed  in  action,  ac- 
cording to  the  casualty  list  of  August  17. 

Joseph  Leo  Jones,  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  H.  Jones,  of  Hooper,  Utah, 
died  Saturday,  August  10,  at  Camp  Upton,  New  York,  in  a  base  hospital. 
His  body  was  returned  to  Hooper  for  burial. 

Hyrum  Perry,  of  Mapleton,  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  S.  Perry  of  Spring- 
ville,  was  killed  in  action  in  France,  on  August  4.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  national  army,  29  years  of  age,  and  received  his  training  at  Camp 
Lewis.    He  had  been  in  Europe  six  months. 

Leon  Haws,  son  of  Mrs.  A.  B.  Haws,  Salt  Lake  City,  was  killed  in  action 
in  France,  July  21.  He  was  born  in  Mammoth,  went  to  Camp  Lewis  with  the 
National  Army  contingent,  in  September,  1917,  arrived  in  France  in  July,  and 
was  serving  with  the  machine  gun  company  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

Guy  S.  Faulconer,  Blackfoot,  Idaho,  son  of  S.  J.  Faulconer,  of  Blackfoot, 
who  left  school  and  enlisted  in  March,  1917,  died  in  action  in  France  accord- 
ing to  official  notice  received  in  Blackfoot,  September  11.  He  was  a  radio 
operator,  and  was  born  near  West  Baden,  Anderson  county,  Kansas,  May  20, 
1899. 

Jabez  Draper,  son  of  George  H.  Draper,  of  Clearfield,  twenty-two  years 
of  age,  was  killed  in  action,  in  France,  July  23.  He  left  Ogden  November 
3,  last,  with  a  contingent  sent  to  Camp  Lewis,  arrived  in  England  last 
Christmas,  and  was  in  France  on  New  Year's  Day,  being  assigned  to  E 
company,  26th  Infantry. 

Charles  Densley,  Riverton,  Utah,  was  killed  in  action  in  France,  July 
21.  He  was  twenty-five  years  of  age,  and  went  into  the  National  army  No- 
vember 3,  first  to  Camp  Lewis,  then  was  transferred  to  an  embarkation  port 
in  New  Jersey.  He  landed  in  England  Christmas  day,  and  two  weeks  later 
was  over  the  channel  in  France. 

Frank  S.  Fuller  of  Springville,  Utah,  lost  his  life  in  action,  in  France, 
June  7.  He  was  the  first  Springville  boy  to  give  up  his  life  in  the  world 
war.  A  memorial  service  was  held  in  the  Springville  Opera  House,  on 
August  25,  in  honor  of  him.  A  great  crowd  of  citizens  turned  out  to  pay 
their  respects  to  his  memory.        * 

Earl  R.  Ridd,  son  of  Brigham  A.  and  Fanny  L.  Ridd,  of  Salt  Lake  City, 
with  the  American  Expeditionary  forces,  was  killed  in  France  on  Julv  9, 
He  enlisted  May  30,  1917,  as  a  volunteer,  and  left  for  Camp  Houston,  Texas, 
June  19.  He  sailed  for  France  October  30  last.  He  had  been  in  action 
forty-two  times,  and  was  killed  on  the  forty-third  time. 

David  Jespersen,  with  the  Expeditionary  forces  in  France,  son  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Jesper  and  Augusta  Jespersen,  Ogden,  formerly  of  Huntsville,  was 
killed  in  action  July  28.  He  was  born  in  Huntsville,  July  20,  1889,  and 
went  to  Camp  Lewis  with  the  first  contingent  of  drafted  men,  arriving  in 
England  on  Christmas  and  in  France  on  January  1,  1918. 

George  L.  Young,  son  of  Mrs.  Margaret  Young,  Salt  Lake  City,  24  years 
old,  was  killed  in  action  in  the  Soissons-Rheims  sector,  according  to  word 
received  July  30,  Salt  Lake  City.  He  was  born  in  Park  City,  Utah,  received 
his  early  education  in  the  schools  of  Salt  Lake,  was  employed  in  the  Denver 


PASSING  EVENTS  1107 

&  Rio  Grande  Railroad  shops  prior  to  his  enlistment  in  the  marine  corps, 
on  June  4,  1917. 

James  Keene  Sprunt,  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  P.  Sprunt,  Jr.,  died  in  a 
French  hospital  from  wounds  received  last  June  while  in  action.  He  was  a 
marine  of  the  fourth  replacement  battalion,  born  in  Ogden,  1890,  but  lived 
principally  in  Salt  Lake.  He  enlisted  January,  1918,  with  the  marines,  being 
assigned  to  a  machine  gun  battalion.  He  went  overseas  May  31,  and  had 
been  a  student  of  the  West  Side  High  School. 

George  Cottam,  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Alma  Cottam,  Salt  Lake  City,  was 
killed  in  action  July  31.  He  enlisted  in  the  United  States  army  Sept.  19, 
1917,  went  with  Utah's  first  group  of  national  army  men  to  Camp  Lewis, 
was  assigned  to  the  i362nd  Infantry,  later  the  47th  Infantry,  at  Camp  Green, 
North  Carolina,  and  from  thence  K>  Camp  Mills,  New  York,  and  overseas. 
He  was  twenty-three  years  old  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

Private  Clarence  James  Mason,  of  Brigham  City,  Utah,  died  of  spinal 
meningitis  at  Camp  Kearny.  His  body  was  sent  to  Brigham  City,  where  it 
arrived  on  August  18,  and  funeral  services  were  held  in  the  afternoon  in  the 
second  ward  meeting  house,  which  was  filled  with  sympathizing  relatives 
and  friends.  Governor  Bamberger  was  present  at  the  funeral  services,  and 
was  one  of  the  speakers.    Mason  was  married  and  leaves  a  young  wife. 

David  A.  Margetts,  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  David  Margetts,  Salt  Lake 
City,  died  of  pneumonia,  in  France,  according  to  official  notice  received 
September  14.  The  young  soldier  graduated  from  the  West  Side  High 
School,  in  1916.  He  enlisted  last  November,  in  the  aviation  corps,  was  sent 
to  Waco,  Texas,  January  25,  from  there  to  Lake  Charles,  Louisiana,  then 
transferred  to  New  York  to  go  overseas,  arriving  in  France  in  July,  1918. 

Sidney  Edwards,  son  of  Eddie  Edwards,  Pinedale,  Wyo.,  was  killed  in 
action  in  France,  July  15.  He  was  one  of  the  first  boys  to  volunteer  in  the 
first  call  from  the  government,  joining  a  machine  gun  company.  He  left 
Pinedale  a  year  ago,  August  28.  The  boy  was  of  Indian  parentage,  and  the 
only  one  in  the  company,  but  was  eager  to  go  with  the  other  boys  to  fight 
for  his  country,  home  and  friends,  showing  him  to  be  a  true  American  in 
every  sense  of  the  word. 

Arrol  H.  Merrill,  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lewis  Edgar  Merrill,  of  Rich- 
mond, Utah,  is  reported  as  dead  of  disease,  in  the  casualty  list  of  Septem- 
ber 15.  He  was  the  first  young  man  from  Richmond  to  reach  France,  as 
well  as  the  first  from  there  to  give  up  his  life  in  battle.  He  was  twenty- 
two  years  of  age,  and  left  for  Camp  Lewis  October  3,  1917,  arriving  in 
France  December  21.  He  had  been  sick  ever  since  his  arrival  in  France, 
having  been  in  a  hospital  with  scarlet  fever,  rheumatism  and  other  com- 
plications. 

Delos  Leroy  Peay,  of  the  United  States  navy,  died  August  24,  from  acci- 
dental scalding  on  the  U.  S.  S.  Agamemnon,  at  an  Atlantic  port.  He  en- 
listed Nov.  17,  1917,  and  was  the  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Peay,  Jr.  The 
officers  and  crew  of  the  Agamemnon  wrote  a  letter  of  sympathy  to  his 
mother  and  sent  her  a  check  for  $304,  representing  contributions  made  by 
the  officers  and  men.  The  body  was  sent  to  Provo  for  burial,  where  funeral 
services  were  held  Sept.  3,  Governor  Bamberger  being  in  attendance,  also  an 
army  platoon  to  do  him  honor. 

Melvin  C.  Patten,  twenty-three  years  of  age,  enlisted  in  Borga,  Idaho, 
April,  1917.  His  home  was  at  Payson,  Utah.  He  was  the  son  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Charles  H.  Patten.  He  was  killed  in  action  July  22.  He  was  guard  at 
the  Lucin  cut-off,  serving  from  May  to  September,  last  year,  and  was  then 
transferred  to  Camp  Green,  North  Carolina.  Just  before  sailing  for  France 
he  was  heard  from  at  Camp  Merritt,  New  Jersey.  He  saw  action  for  the 
first  time  in  April  this  year,  and  was  with  a  machine  gun  company  of  the 
18th  Infantry.  Mr.  Patten  came  from  Mexico  in  1907,  having  been  born  in 
Dublan,  Mexico,  December  23,  1895. 


iliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiii i  mi  ii  i.  iinr 1 1 1 1 1 .  i  mi  it  mil  1 1 1 1  ii  ii  ■  1 1 1 1 1  it  ■  iiiiiiiiiii  t  in  it  s 


iE^ll^iaMll 


The  popularity  and  excellence  of 
Dark  Barre  Granite  for  polished  monu- 
ments is  shown  by  an  inspection  of  the 
monumental  show  rooms  and  yards.  At 
almost  every  dealers'  it  is  most  noticeable 
that  polished  monuments  of  this  stone 
largely  predominate  in  number  and 
style.  There  is  no  granite  that  surpasses 
it  in  quality  or  beauty. 

Just    specify  Dark  Barre    Granite 
and  order  through  your  local  dealers. 


niUlniliniUniHllinHIIHMMIUNNIIIinHIUIHIIIIIIIIUNIIIIMUUIIIHIIMUinilllMMIIMMMUNII1lllllliniMMIIIIIIinnilllllUIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMI1IINIinilllllll3 


I'liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiimiimiimiiiiimiimiimii iiiiiiiiihiiiimiii  mini  mini imiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiimiinmiimiiiiiij 


MODEL  OF  A  CORNER  OF  THE  UTAH  STATE  CAPITOL 


This  model  was  made  to  show  the  polished,  monolithic  columns  of  Dark  . 
Barre  Granite  furnished  by  Boutwell,  Milne  &  Varnum  Co.  Had  these  columns  f 
been  adopted  the  colonnade  of  fifty-two  around  the  entire  building,  each  thirty- 
two  feet  long  and  four  feet  in  diameter,  would  have  been  the  only  one  of  its 
kind  in  the  world.  It  would  have  exceeded  all  others  in  the  number,  size  and 
beauty  of  its  polished  monoliths.  The  chief  regret  in  the  building  of  the  State 
Capitol  is  that  they  were  not  adopted.  i 

Only  the  BOUTWELL  QUARRIES 

were  capable  of  supplying  so  many  perfect  columns  of  such  size. 


-.  1 1 U 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 M 1 1 M 1 1 1 1 1 1 M 1 1 1 1 1 M I M 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 M I M 1 1 1 M 1 1 1 1 1 M 1 1 1 !  1 1 L 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 M I M  M 1 1  i  M 1 1 M 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 M I !  1 M 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 M 1 1 M 1 1 1 1 M 1 1 M 1 1 1 M 1 1 1 M 1 1 1  >  M 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 M  M 1 1 1 L 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 J 1 1 1 1 1 M  i  1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1  r  K 


^Ilfliin  nil  I  mi  >i  III  m  111 1 1 1  111  M  in  i in I  m  1 1 1  il  1 1 n  1 1 1  fi  1 1  >  iti  1 1 1  ti  1 1  <  n  1 1 1  r  ii  1 1  <  n  r  1 1  m  i  r 1 1 !  1 1 1 1 1 M 1 1 1  m  1 1 1 1 1  m  1 1  m  1 1 1 1 1 1  r  1 1 1  M  1 1 1 1 1 1 M  <  1 1 1 1 1 1 1 M  1 1 1 1 J  M 1 1 1 1 1 M 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1  [  1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 II 1 1 1 1  li^; 

I  MARR  &  GORDON,  Inc.  | 


This  GREAT  GRANITE  MANUFACTURING  ESTAB-  J 

[      LISHMENT  is  450  feet  long  and  60  feet  wide.    Within,  and  1 

serving  every  foot  of  space,  is  a  double  traveling  crane  on  | 

tracks  40  feet  apart  having  power  to  lift  and  carry  stones  | 

1      up  to  70  tons  weight. 

The  plant  is  fully  equipped  with  electric  power  and 

|  modern  machinery   for  cutting,   carving  and  polishing  all 

|  grades  of  granite  in  all  sizes  and  designs.     Here  are  manu-  | 

1  factured  polished  shafts  of  the  greatest  length,  the  largest  | 

|  and  most  ornate  mausoleums  and  all  kinds  of  monuments  | 

|  and  headstones.     There  is  also  an  art  sculpture  department,  | 

1  in  which  skilled  Italian  sculptors  are  constantly  engaged  in  | 

|  reproducing  antique  masterpieces  and  modern  portrait  fig- 

|  ures  of  life-like  perfection.  | 

People  desiring  monumental  work  of  the  highest  class 
1      need  only  specify  MARR  &  GORDON  QUALITY  BARRE      ! 
1       GRANITE  and  order  through  their  local  dealers. 

MARR  &  GORDON,  Inc. 

BARRE,  VERMONT 

THE  GRANITE  CENTER  OF  THE  WORLD 

s  5 

=  c 

?jiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!iiiiiiiiiii.iiii iiiiiiiiimiiiiiiii iniitiiiuiii iiiiiiiiii 1 1 1 1 1 1 1  ■  1 1 1 1 1 1 1  ■  1 1  ■  i  ■  i  ■  1 1 1  ri  i  ■  i  ■  i  ■  i  ■  i  ■  i  ■  1 1 1  ■  ■  ■  1 1 1 1  ■  i  ■  1 1 1  ■  1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1  ■  t  ■  i  ■  i  ■  ■  ■  <^ 


jliiiiiiMiiiiimiiiiiimiiiiiiimmimi iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiu^ 

a  § 

|  2000  Gospel  | 

|   Quotations  ( 

By  Henry  H.  Rolapp 

We   have    orders   from    all  j 

|     directions   for   this   valuable  | 

1     Book  of  Reference.     The  El-  j 

1     ders  in  the  mission  field  hail  | 

|     it  as  a  work  that  they  have  ! 
1     long  looked  for.    Members  of 

Quorums  and  students  of  the  | 

Gospel   generally  find  it  the  j 

1     most    complete    work    of    its  | 
|    kind  issued  to  date. 

Handsomely  bound  in  cloth  j 
$1.25  postpaid. 

DESERET  NEWS  BOOK 
|  STORE 

6  Main  St:,  Salt  Lake  City 

Sllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllltllllllillllllllliiiilllilllllliliiiiiiin 


Sympathy  Is  Grateful 

When  you're  sorrowing.  But  it  doesn't 
pay  bills.  An  insurance  policy  is  full 
of  the  right  sort  of  sympathy  when 
your  property  is  destroyed.  And  no 
one  should  neglect  to  secure  protection 
•gainst  such  a  contingency.  We  give 
you  the  maximum  of  insurance  at  min- 
imum of  cost.    Let  us  quote  you  rate*. 

Home  Fire  Insurance  Go.  of  Utah 

Salt  Lake  City,  Utah.    22  Main  Street 
"Keep  Money  at  Home." 

Do  It  With 
Xmas  Cards  and 
Good  Books 

"We're  all  in  the  battle  line  now, 
and  the  word  is  'carry  on.'  No 
fight  was  ever  won  by  gloom. 
Answer  the  German  snarl  with  a 
Yankee  grin,  and  hit  harder. 
Smiles  are  bullets.  Brave  thoughts 
are  bayonets.  Words  of  cheer  are 
trains  of  powder  that  run  straight 
and  swift  to  the  enemy  lines." 

Sunday  School  Union 
Book  Store 

THE    BOOK   STORE    OF   SALT 
LAKE  CITY 

44  East  on  South  Temple  St. 

WHEN  WRITING  TO  ADVERTISERS,  PLEASE  MENTION  THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


Joseph  Smith  as 
Scientist 

By  Dr.  John  A.  Widtsoe  , 

One  of  the  best  scientific  expositions 
of  the  teachings  of  the  Prophet  Joseph 
Smith  yet  published. 

Cloth  Binding. 75c 

Paper  Binding 25c 

Send  orders  to  MORONI  SNOW, 

General  Secretary, 
10-22  Bishop's  Bldg.,      Salt  Lake  City 


Jos.  Wm.  Taylor 

Utah's  Leading  Undertaker 
and  Licensed  Embalmer 

Fiat  Funeral  Chapel,  Private  Parlor, 
Show  Rooms  and  Morgue 

CmCM  OFKN  DAT  AND  NIGHT 

tl.  21  mai  n  SmOi  Wert  T«»»I*  Str««t 
SALT  LAKE  CITY,  UTAH 


Marvelous  Growth  of  the  Inter-Mountain  Lite  Insurance  Go. 

BEGAN  BUSINESS  AUGUST  I,  1911 

Year  Ending         Insurance  in  Force 

JANUARY    1.1912,    $512.000  00 

JANUARY   1,  1913,  $1,556,000.00 

JANUARY  1.  1914,  $4,006,811.00 

JANUARY  1,1915,  $5,076,950.00 

JANUARY   1,  1916,  $5,381,502.00 

JANUARY  1,  1917,  $6,357,403.00 

JANUARY  1,1918,  $7,361,242.00 

Why  buy  policies  from  abroad  when  you  can  obtain  them  JUST  as  secure  at  home? 


A  small  payment  down  and  terms  to  suit 
you  and 

We  Will  Send  a 

Columbia  Grafonola 

To  Your  Home 


Wrj)tfy  for  full  information  and  personal  attention  will 
be  jjiven  your  letter — and  when  you  come  to  Salt  Lake  be 
sure  and  visit  our  store — 


(a     Utah's  Great  Music  Store,  older  than 
the  State  itself. 


mwunojMoj 


*ss& 


cmtouSxso,  000.00 
ft  THAN  TUB   STATS  OF  LrtAM* 


LIFE  INSURANCE 

Protects  your  family  if  you  die 
Protects  you  if  you  lil?e 

Ask  about  our  plan  which  helps  you  to  accumulate 
an  estate  at  the  same  time  you  are  protecting  your  family 

WE  WANT  GOOD  AGENTS  IN  EVERY  TOWN 

Benef  iciaf  Lif  e  Insurance  Company 

Joseph  F.  Smith,  President    Vermont  Bldg.,  Salt  Lake  Lorenzo  N.  Stohl.Vice-Pres.AMfr. 


ASSETS 
MORE 
THAN  A 
MILLION 
DOLLARS 


WHRN   WRITING  TO  ADVERTISERS,  PLEASE  MENTION  THE  IMPROVEMENT  BRA